VZCZCXRO6380
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVI #1697 3260732
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 210732Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1407
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001697
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN (KRAAIMOORE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN VIEW OF NICARAGUAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 122262
Classified by: Economic-Political Counselor J. Dean Yap for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Polchief discussed reftel points November 20 with
Andreas Melan, MFA Unit Chief for Latin America and the
Caribbean. Melan agreed that the Nicaraguan municipal
elections did not meet international standards. He said the
declining democratic standards in Nicaragua have been an
increasing concern for the EU; the current French term
presidency has consistently included Nicaragua on the agenda
in EU fora. Melan said a number of EU states that were
providing budget support to the Nicaraguan government have
recently reduced or frozen their assistance because the
government has failed to adequately account for the funds.
The GOA, by contrast, provides development assistance
directly to local governments and NGOs in Nicaragua, and
continues to be able to monitor those programs thoroughly, he
said.
2. (C) Nevertheless, the EU has not yet addressed the issue
of the November 9 elections. When it does, the GOA would
support a strong message criticizing the election
irregularities, he said. Melan questioned, however, whether
it would make sense to call for a recount. Noting that the
Nicaraguan government had already recounted the Managua vote,
he averred that any official recount would only confirm the
results of the flawed election.
GIRARD-DICARLO