US embassy cable - 05CAIRO7286

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 007286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, EG 
SUBJECT: EGYPT: REALIZING PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE 
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 
 
REF: A. CAIRO 7189 (NOTAL) 
     B. CAIRO 7155 
     C. CAIRO 7045 
     D. CAIRO 6418 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Building on specific ideas outlined in ref D, and in 
keeping with the overall approach presented in ref C, Embassy 
Cairo is working on a series of practical measures that can 
be taken to improve the transparency of Egypt's upcoming 
parliamentary elections, expected in three stages in 
November.  Our activities include: 
 
A. Lobbying for GOE invitations to international observers: 
 
-- As discussed in ref A, we are continuing to reach out to 
key decision makers to urge that Egypt reconsider its 
opposition to the participation of international observers; 
 
-- We are arguing that such invitations (issued in a timely 
fashion) will automatically raise the international 
credibility of Egypt's process, while forgoing this 
opportunity will necessarily detract from Egypt's standing on 
the world stage as an emerging democracy; 
 
B.  Expanding support for domestic monitors: 
 
-- The role of Egypt's domestic election monitors is one of 
the success stories of the September 7 presidential election; 
 
 
-- The monitoring groups (with USG-funded technical support 
and direct grants to offset costs) provided important data 
and observations on the process, and were largely accepted by 
the public and even regarded by the GOE as playing a positive 
role. 
 
-- The groups are poised to reprise and expand their 
activities in observing the parliamentary polls and USAID, 
MEPI and the grantees are currently working intensely with 
domestic groups to ensure they have the capacity and 
resources they need to get the job done. 
 
C. Ramping up voter information programs: 
 
-- An important shortcoming of the September 7 process was 
the confusion of voters over where, when, and how to vote. 
USAID, grantees, and Egyptian partners are working to develop 
materials that can be easily and widely disseminated to 
provide as many Egyptian voters as possible with clear and 
concise information. 
 
D. Pressing for clear and timely information: 
 
-- Key to the success of point C will be the willingness of 
the parliamentary elections commission (which has yet to be 
constituted) to provide the public and participating 
political parties with information on the location of polling 
stations and clear (and consistently enforced) i.d. 
requirements and procedures for out-of-town voters. 
 
-- We will be pressing the GOE on the need for such 
information, and will communicate this to the elections 
commission, once it is activated. 
 
E. Moving polling places out of police stations: 
 
-- The Ambassador enlisted the support of Interior Minister 
Adly (ref B) for the concept of moving those polling places 
currently located in police stations to more politically 
neutral locations.  We will continue to make this point to 
other GOE interlocutors. 
 
F.  Offering technical support on ink: 
 
-- A significant, though easily corrected, flaw in the Sept. 
7 election was the use by many polling stations of ink that 
proved to be easily removed. 
 
-- We will offer to the parliamentary elections commission 
technical support and consultations on inks that meet 
international standards; 
 
G. Ensuring polling places are free from partisan personnel 
and materials: 
 
-- Most if not all polling places on September 7 were draped 
with pro-Mubarak posters and banners, hung by enthusiastic 
NDP operatives whose presence was felt in and around 
virtually every site. 
 
-- We will press the GOE to ensure that all sites are 
completely free of partisan materials and to limit the role 
of party representatives.  Taking this step would mark a 
significant improvement over past elections, a point we will 
be highlighting in our discussions with the Egyptians. 
H. Replacing existing ballot boxes with transparent ones: 
 
-- Clear plastic ballot boxes have become the international 
standard and have both practical and symbolic benefits. 
 
-- We will offer to facilitate the GOE's acquisition of such 
boxes (including looking for other possible donors), which it 
will be able to use in the November parliamentary polls and 
in future polls. 
 
I. Urging transparency in the counting process: 
 
-- The parliamentary elections commission should direct 
judges to issue interim counts from their individual polling 
stations.  This would greatly enhance the transparancy and 
preclude opportunities for manipulation. 
 
-- The transparency of the counting process would be even 
higher if domestic monitors were allowed to observe the 
counting; 
 
-- We will press the GOE to get the elections commission to 
review counting procedures and seize opportunities to 
increase transparency. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
JONES