US embassy cable - 05CAIRO8534

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 008534 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015 
TAGS: EAID, PGOV, KDEM, KMPI, EG, Parliamentary Elections 
SUBJECT: EGYPT'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS:  USG FUNDING 
SUPPORTS WIDE RANGE OF DEMOCRACY ACTIVITIES 
 
 
Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  USAID and MEPI funds are supporting a wide range 
of initiatives linked to Egypt's 2005 parliamentary 
elections, which begin on November 9 and will continue 
through December 7.  This message provides an update on 
unprecedented USG initiatives, which are proceeding without 
GOE interference and which are enhancing democratic processes 
in the parliamentary arena.  They include direct support for 
civil society monitors, training for journalists, and a 
significant voter information program.  Funding amounts noted 
below cover additional activities that occurred prior to or 
will occur after the parliamentary elections.  End summary. 
 
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NDI 
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2.  (SBU)  Using a USAID grant ($997,000), the National 
Democratic Institute has trained domestic civil society 
trainers for a national network of volunteer observers 
(currently estimated at 10,000 nationwide) to monitor and 
report on the pre-election environment, election days, and 
the immediate post-election period.  NDI also is 
 
--training political party candidates and agents to monitor 
the integrity of the voting process; 
 
--fielding an international assessment team of six 
international "Long Term Observers," as well as another 15-20 
"Short Term Observers," to visit polling centers, observe 
polling, and talk with voters and election officials; 
 
--NDI President Ken Wollack will visit Egypt, November 14-18; 
Wollack's program includes a number of high-level GOE 
meetings. 
 
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IRI/ICEM 
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3.  (SBU)  The International Republican Institute, also 
supported by a USAID grant ($1,392,000), will field an 
international assessment team for the second round of the 
elections which take place on November 20.  IRI has also 
 
--supported the efforts of the Independent Coalition for 
Electoral Monitoring (ICEM, led by a MEPI-grantee, the Ibn 
Khaldun Center) to train and deploy more than 500 observers 
during the pre-election period to monitor the candidate 
registration process and media coverage; 
 
--using a USAID sub-grant administered by IRI, ICEM will 
field approximately 5,000 volunteer monitors to cover all 222 
constituencies during the three rounds of elections and 
runoffs. 
 
Note:  ICEM's work on the parliamentary elections is also 
supported by MEPI funds left over from ICEM's work on the 
presidential election, which was funded by MEPI.  End note 
 
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APRO 
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4.  (SBU)  The Arab Penal Reform Organization (APRO), 
supported by a USAID grant for $260,000, has trained 2000 
election monitors to cover polling stations in most 
constituencies.  Its coalition members are also monitoring 
the overall media environment and coverage, both print and 
broadcast, of the electoral process. 
 
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ICFJ 
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5.  (SBU)  The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), 
supported by a USAID grant ($557,000), has continued 
nationwide training programs for journalists to enable them 
to report better on individual parliamentary districts.  ICFJ 
has placed particular emphasis on training journalists about 
their responsibility to hold election winners accountable for 
campaign promises. 
 
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IFES 
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6.  (SBU)  The International Foundation for Elections Systems 
(IFES), using a USAID contract for $1.3 million, has shared 
information on best practices for voter education with the 
GOE's State Information Service, which has in turn created 
voter awareness messages and printed and broadcast voter 
information products, including in the leading national 
newspaper, Al-Ahram. IFES has also 
 
--facilitated the creation of a new voters' education NGO 
network and helped develop a manual to educate voters, 
particularly women, youth, and the disabled in Upper Egypt, 
the Delta, and greater Cairo; 
 
--helped a local NGO to develop a website to raise awareness 
on elections and participation; 
 
--sponsored civic dialogue sessions on topics such as 
electoral reform and administration, campaigning and 
Parliamentary representation. 
 
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EASD 
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7.  (SBU)  Using supplemental grant support from MEPI of 
$75,000, the Egyptian Association for Supporting Democracy, 
will field an additional 1500 election day monitors.  (Note: 
EASD, like the Ibn Khaldun Center, is a MEPI grantee for 
other democracy activities not directly linked to the 
parliamentary elections.  End note.) 
 
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Comment 
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8.  (C)  All of these activities have been proceeding without 
GOE interference.  Despite the media backlash, and private 
GOE pique, that we witnessed after the Embassy's announcement 
of several MEPI democracy grants in March, we have 
established a significant record of USG direct funding for 
crucial democracy activities in Egypt.  End comment. 
 
 
RICCIARDONE