US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2946

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002946 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/AND and WHA/USOAS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, HA 
SUBJECT: Haiti To Send Monitors to Bolivia if Funds 
Available 
 
REF: STATE 214591 
 
1.  This is an action request, please see para 4. 
 
2.  After multiple attempts to reach interim Haitian 
Minister of Interior (MOI) Paul Magloire to deliver points 
in reftel, PolOff delivered demarche early November 30 to 
MOI Director General Wilner Cadet.  Cadet was non-committal 
in his reply whether the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) 
would be able to send observers to the December 18 elections 
in Bolivia. 
 
3.  Minister Magloire telephoned PolOff late November 30 and 
said the IGOH would indeed be interested in sending a 
bilateral delegation, but would need funding to field such a 
delegation (Note: Magloire did offer the IGOH would be 
willing to fund a portion of the costs, but due to the 
IGOH's own limited financial constraints, most of the 
delegation would have to be funded from elsewhere). 
Magloire said sending an observation mission would be "an 
ideal opportunity for members of civil society and political 
parties to gain experience" by traveling to Bolivia as Haiti 
prepares for its own elections. 
 
4.  Comment and Action Request:  Haiti's first round of 
elections is scheduled January 8 and the independent 
Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) is on a strict timeline 
to ensure technical tasks are completed to avoid additional 
delays.  It is unlikely CEP members could afford the time to 
travel to Bolivia.  However, the non-government organization 
National Council of Observers (CNO) is currently training 
its own membership for the fast-approaching Haitian 
elections and may benefit from the experience, as would 
political parties and members of civil society the IGOH 
would invite as part of its bilateral delegation.  Please 
advise if there is funding available (either from USG 
sources, Bolivia's National Electoral Court or the OAS 
mission on the ground) to assist the IGOH in fielding an 
electoral observation mission to the December 18 elections 
in Bolivia.  Minister Magloire is traveling this weekend and 
needs a response soonest.  End Comment and Action Request. 
 
KERST