VZCZCXRO8418
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2077 2661430
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221430Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0530
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0305
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0058
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS CAIRO 002077
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ELA AND DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KDEM PO IN EG
SUBJECT: IFES PLANS SECOND TRIP WITH SUPREME ELECTORAL
COMMISSION
REF: CAIRO 1255
1. (SBU) International Foundation for Electoral Systems
(IFES) Country Director Jeffrey Carlson told us September 15
there is a good chance that IFES will lead a trip with four
members of Egypt's Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) in
October to India, where SEC members would meet with Indian
counterparts on a program similar to the SEC's visit to
Poland in June (reftel). (Comment: The SEC's decision to
participate in this subsequent trip is a further breakthrough
for IFES in its effort to engage with this key electoral
body, and is testament to IFES' low-key, confidence-building
approach through Egyptian partners. End comment.)
2. (SBU) Carlson also said that IFES is exploring the
provision of a specialized electoral training module to the
Interior Ministry in October, and plans to work with Cairo
University on developing technical assistance programs for
upcoming elections. Carlson told us that IFES intends to
pursue voter education training among syndicates and unions,
and through its website "Aswatna," ("Our Votes") which is not
formally identified as an IFES website.
SCOBEY