Cablegate: Timor-Leste Participation in June Launch Events

VZCZCXRO4834
OO RUEHDT
DE RUEHDT #0142 1360742
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 150742Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4000
INFO RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR IMMEDIATE 0003
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 3445

UNCLAS DILI 000142

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND DRL - CAMPONOVO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE PARTICIPATION IN JUNE LAUNCH EVENTS

REF: A) STATE 50320, B) DILI 122

1. (U) On May 15 we met with Vicky Tchong, Secretary General of
Timor-Leste's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to invite Timor-Leste
to send two participants to the upcoming Asia Pacific Democracy
Partnership electoral observation mission and meeting to be held
in Mongolia from June 25 and July 2 (reftel A). We added that
the USG would likely be willing fund the travel of the two
officials. Ms. Tchong responded that the Timor-Leste's MFA is
experiencing major staffing gaps and "it would be very
difficult" to dispense with an official during the time frame.
She said it might be easier to select a participant once she had
seen the agenda for the meeting.

2. (U) Ms. Tchong said that Timor-Leste might be willing to send
a member of one of its two election oversight bodies, the
National Electoral Council (CNE) or Technical Secretariat for
Election Administration (STAE) to participate in the election
monitoring mission.

3. (SBU) Post also informed the International Republican
Institute's Dili office that we were extending this invitation.

4. (SBU) Comment. Despite Timor-Leste's enthusiasm in principle
for participating in the APDP (ref B), the timing may not be
optimal for the MFA. The Multilateral Affairs section currently
has one staffer and the Bilateral Affairs section will soon be
completely vacant, according to Ms. Tchong. She added that
there will soon be an intake of new MFA personnel, but the
interview and hiring process would also tie up staff currently
in place. The MFA's disorganization and chronic understaffing
is impacting our cooperation with the GOTL in many areas. End
comment.

KLEMM

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