Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TIRANA272
2009-04-30 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ODIHR ELECTION OBSERVATION

Tags:  KDEM PREL PGOV OSCE AL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3540
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTI #0272/01 1201519
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 301519Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8083
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3559
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2484
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0809
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000272 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2019
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV OSCE AL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ODIHR ELECTION OBSERVATION
MISSION WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

Classified By: Ambassador John L. Withers, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000272

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2019
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV OSCE AL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ODIHR ELECTION OBSERVATION
MISSION WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

Classified By: Ambassador John L. Withers, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Withers told Foreign Minister
Basha on April 30 that the U.S. is surprised by Albanian
objections to Dame Audrey Glover's appointment as Head of the
upcoming ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Albania. He
cautioned the FM against Albania setting an unfortunate
precedent of member countries trying to influence ODIHR/OSCE
nominations - a precedent the U.S., OSCE and others are keen
to avoid. FM Basha outlined Albania's "strong objection" to
Glover's appointment, claiming that although the GOA has
"nothing personal" against Glover or her qualifications, the
GOA is convinced that because Glover headed ODIHR at the time
of the badly flawed 1996 Albanian presidential elections, her
appointment would "open the door to an ugly period in our
history." Basha gave little indication of any willingness to
budge, and instead asked for U.S. help to find a "quiet
solution" by reaching out the British and others - a request
the Ambassador declined. Immediately following the meeting,
Head of the OSCE Mission to Albania Robert Bosch telephoned
Ambassador Withers and said that ODIHR will go head with the
Glover appointment, believing that Albania has no authority
to object to her appointment. END SUMMARY.

FM Basha: "It's Nothing Personal"
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador opened the meeting by outlining the
U.S. position that Albania's seeking to influence the Glover
appointment would set dangerous precedent, one that would be
eagerly seized upon by other countries far more critical of
ODIHR than Albania. The Ambassador said Albania's reaction
had surprised the U.S., and said the fact that Glover headed
ODIHR at the time of the 1996 Albanian elections and the
ensuing very negative ODIHR report on the elections is not
justification for the GOA to object to her appointment now.


3. (C) Basha told Ambassador Withers that the GOA has
"nothing personal" against Glover, and does not contest her
qualifications or background. Instead, Basha insisted, the
opposition and media would use the Glover appointment to
"reopen the drawer" of 1996, a period Basha described as "the
absolute low point" of Albanian-ODIHR relations". Basha
recalled that following the ODIHR report on the 1996
presidential elections, ODIHR was not allowed back to Albania
to observe the 1996 local elections, because relations
between the GOA and ODIHR had sunk to such lows. Basha said
that the opposition, media and Albanian public would
inevitably see Glover's appointment as a vote of no
confidence in the GOA's ability to carry out a good election,
claiming "if I were in the opposition, that's what I would do
too." Basha said that of all the people available to ODIHR,
no other "has a bigger link to the dark days of 1996."


4. (C) Basha asked for the Ambassador's help in finding a
"quiet, but quick solution," and suggested that the U.S.
could reach out to others to encourage ODIHR to find another
candidate. The Ambassador declined, saying the U.S. position
on this was clear. Immediately following the meeting, OSCE
Head of Presence Robert Bosch telephoned Ambassador Withers
to say that ODIHR will move ahead with Glover's appointment,
believing that Albania has no grounds or authority on which
to reject the head of an Election Observation Mission.

GOA Objection Comes Straight From the Top
--------------


5. (C) COMMENT: Basha's uncompromising stand echoes that
heard by the British charge, who demarched Basha on April 29.
Basha said he had also spoken to Greek PM Bakoyanni and the
German Ambassador about the issue as well. Basha's talking
points were well rehearsed, but can't disguise the fact that
all of the GOA objections to Glover likely stem from a
longtime PM Berisha grudge against Glover because she was the
head of ODIHR at the time of the rigged 1996 presidential
elections - one of the worst black marks on Berisha's long
political career. The GOA stand also reflects another
Berisha tendency - his belief that he must control each and
every aspect of the upcoming elections, including those
mandated to assess and comment upon them.





TIRANA 00000272 002 OF 002


WITHERS