Cablegate: Canada Critical of Nicaraguan Municipal Elections

VZCZCXRO4126
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #1460 3232220
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182220Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8747
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001460

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN (ALBERT KRAAIMOORE) AND WHA/CAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV NU CA
SUBJECT: CANADA CRITICAL OF NICARAGUAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

REF: STATE 122262

1. (SBU) In response to reftel demarche on November 18,
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Nicaragua desk officer Sandy Ewart confirmed that Canada
fully shares U.S. concerns regarding the November 9
Nicaraguan municipal elections. He noted that the Canadian
Embassy in Costa Rica (which covers Nicaragua) had issued a
press release on November 13 expressing its concerns over the
elections. (Full text in para 2.)

2. (U) Begin Text

Press Release
Embassy of Canada
San Jose, Costa Rica

13 November 2008

Canada Expresses Concern Over Nicaraguan Elections

The Government of Canada expressed its concern over the
incidence of violence, lack of national electoral observers
and lack of transparency during the November 9th municipal
elections in Nicaragua.

Reports of intimidation, irregularities in voting procedures
and counting on Sunday, as well as the violence which
followed, resulting in loss of life, are particularly
worrisome. The barring of independent observers during the
election, which is critical to ensuring a transparent
electoral process, is of particular concern.

Canada joins the Organization of American States, the
European Union, and the United States in their statements of
concern over the election.

Canada urges all parties to work openly and peacefully toward
a just solution to the situation. It also strongly urges the
Government of Nicaragua to uphold the principles of the
Inter-American Democratic Charter and to ensure that the
election results reflect the will of Nicaraguans. Canada
actively promotes free and fair democratic processes in the
Americas and strongly encourages consideration of proposals
made by Nicaraguan civil society and religious leaders for
re-assessing existing results with independent domestic and
foreign observers.

End text

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