US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN679

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000679 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, PGOV, PHUM 
SUBJECT: IRISH REACTION TO ETHIOPIAN POST-ELECTION PERIOD 
 
REF: STATE 99185 
 
Classified By: ACTING POL/ECON CHIEF JOE YOUNG, 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B), (D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  In response to reftel points, Department of 
Foreign Affairs Deputy Sub-Sahara Africa Director Pat Kelly 
noted that the vote counting process in Ethiopia lacks 
transparency and is a cause for concern.  He said the Irish 
participants in the European Union Election Observer Mission 
(EUEOM) are promoting dialogue and the use of legal recourse 
in filing complaints.  Overall, according to Kelly, the EUEOM 
was "genuinely impressed" with the election campaign and 
voting procedures, noting that campaigns were well-organized, 
rallies and demonstrations were peaceful, and the GOE allowed 
the media appropriate air time and impartial coverage.  He 
added that the EUEOM is now pressing the GOE to allow 
adequate media coverage of the vote counting to promote 
reconciliation between the government and the opposition.  He 
said that the final tally may need to be delayed beyond the 
June 8 deadline in order to ensure transparency and a fair 
count.  End summary 
 
2.  (C) Kelly's answers below are keyed to reftel questions: 
 
--According to Kelly, the EUEOM visited approximately 500 
polling stations and found more support for the opposition 
than the government is now reporting.  The National Election 
Board's preliminary reports do not tally with observations 
and early EUEOM predictions for results.  Though the 
elections were handled with credibility, the vote counting is 
not transparent and is cause for concern. 
 
--Bilaterally, the GOI will not issue any statement or take 
steps to assist in managing the post-election process or 
fraud elections.  Kelly said proper vote counting in this 
election is very important to Ireland, but it is important 
that the EU speak in one voice for all Member States. 
 
--Kelly said that the decision of how long to remain in 
country needs to be addressed by the EU Commission and the 
EUEOM.  He added that Ireland stands ready to support the 
current vote counting and future elections.  Kelly, along 
with two Irish parliament members, and five other observers 
had monitored the Ethiopian elections, primarily in the 
Somali region of Eastern Ethiopia.  This region maintains 23 
Ethiopian constituencies, but due to security concerns voting 
in this region has been tentatively deferred until August 
2005. 
 
--Kelly observed that unfettered access to all aspects of the 
vote tabulation process for the monitors and media should 
have been in place from the beginning, and should apply in 
future elections.  He added that access is to be granted in 
pending run-offs and that elections will take place in 
disputed areas such as the Somali region in Eastern Ethiopia. 
 
 
--Kelly said that the most important steps to take with the 
opposition include providing legal avenues to file disputes 
with the National Election Board (NEB) and pressing the 
government to allow ample media coverage to the vote tally 
process.  He said that it would be more effective for the EU 
to deliver this message with a single voice than for the 
Member States to speak separately.  Ireland has no plans to 
make direct overtures.  He added that in order to reach a 
fair outcome of the tally, the results may need to be delayed 
beyond the June 8 deadline. 
KENNY