Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10STOCKHOLM20
2010-01-19 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
IRAQ ELECTION COMMISSION TELLS SWEDES OF PRESSURE
how-toVZCZCXRO2032 OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDH RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHSM #0020 0191440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191440Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5054 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000020
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ IR SW
SUBJECT: IRAQ ELECTION COMMISSION TELLS SWEDES OF PRESSURE
TO CUT NAMES FROM ELECTORAL LISTS
REF: 01/15/10 SELINGER-KOEHLER EMAIL
Classified By: DCM Robert Silverman for reasons 1(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000020
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ IR SW
SUBJECT: IRAQ ELECTION COMMISSION TELLS SWEDES OF PRESSURE
TO CUT NAMES FROM ELECTORAL LISTS
REF: 01/15/10 SELINGER-KOEHLER EMAIL
Classified By: DCM Robert Silverman for reasons 1(b) and (d).
1. (C) Swedish Ambassador to Iraq Niclas Trouve spoke over
the weekend with Faraj al-Haidari, the head of Iraq's
Independent High Electoral Commission, to express concern
over last week's announcement that some 500 candidates for
the March 7 parliamentary elections would be banned from
participation. During a January 19 call to Pol Counselor,
Robert Rydberg, MFA Director General for Middle Eastern and
North African Affairs, noted that Trouve had cautioned
al-Haidari that preventing a large number of candidates from
running "could put into question the legitimacy of the
elections and complicate the process of reconciliation."
2. (C) Al-Haidari reportedly told the Swedish ambassador that
the Independent Election Commission had come under
considerable "political pressure" from the Iraqi government
and had resisted initial demands that some 1000 candidates be
barred. Stressing that he was offering his personal
opinions, al-Haidari reportedly said he did not think party
lists should be scrubbed of Baathists. Rydberg said
Ambassador Trouve also offered his assessment that the Iraqi
government will continue discussions internally and that
there will be some "political compromise" in the near future
regarding the electoral lists.
BARZUN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ IR SW
SUBJECT: IRAQ ELECTION COMMISSION TELLS SWEDES OF PRESSURE
TO CUT NAMES FROM ELECTORAL LISTS
REF: 01/15/10 SELINGER-KOEHLER EMAIL
Classified By: DCM Robert Silverman for reasons 1(b) and (d).
1. (C) Swedish Ambassador to Iraq Niclas Trouve spoke over
the weekend with Faraj al-Haidari, the head of Iraq's
Independent High Electoral Commission, to express concern
over last week's announcement that some 500 candidates for
the March 7 parliamentary elections would be banned from
participation. During a January 19 call to Pol Counselor,
Robert Rydberg, MFA Director General for Middle Eastern and
North African Affairs, noted that Trouve had cautioned
al-Haidari that preventing a large number of candidates from
running "could put into question the legitimacy of the
elections and complicate the process of reconciliation."
2. (C) Al-Haidari reportedly told the Swedish ambassador that
the Independent Election Commission had come under
considerable "political pressure" from the Iraqi government
and had resisted initial demands that some 1000 candidates be
barred. Stressing that he was offering his personal
opinions, al-Haidari reportedly said he did not think party
lists should be scrubbed of Baathists. Rydberg said
Ambassador Trouve also offered his assessment that the Iraqi
government will continue discussions internally and that
there will be some "political compromise" in the near future
regarding the electoral lists.
BARZUN