VZCZCXRO3318
OO RUEHDT
DE RUCNDT #1689 2441530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 011530Z SEP 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0049
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0798
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1283
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY 0464
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0480
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2706
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001689
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM TT PO GV EAID
SUBJECT: UN ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE CONSULTATIONS IN
TIMOR-LESTE
1. (SBU) The UN's Electoral Assistance Division hosted a
discussion August 31 in New York on electoral assistance to
Timor-Leste. Finn Reske-Nielsen, newly named deputy SRSG
(Reconstruction, Development, Humanitarian Affairs) to
Timor-Leste, outlined his plan to closely coordinate with
local Embassies and international organizations in Dili. In
advance of nation-wide elections planned for April or May
2007, Reske-Nielsen said the Timorese government suffered
from "serious capacity constraints" and called for the donor
community to coordinate closely in the run-up to the
elections. The UN presence, drawing on UNSCR 1704, will
focus on providing technical electoral and developmental
assistance and on ensuring that elections are free and fair.
Thirty international electoral specialists are currently
co-located with Timorese officials, and two waves of UN
monitors are planned in advance of the elections.
2. (SBU) Representatives from Australia, Brazil, Portugal,
the European Commission, USUN, UNDP and IFES echoed
Reske-Nielsen's call for close coordination on the ground in
Dili. The Brazilian and Portuguese representatives urged the
UN to proactively identify electoral needs, and expressed
interest in sending their nationals as UN monitors. UN
officials from the Electoral Assistance Division and
Peacekeeping Operations said they would work to mirror
international cooperation in Dili with regular contact among
interested parties in New York.
BOLTON