Cablegate: U.S. Contribution to the Un Electoral Assistance

VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #1888 1611847
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 091839Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2084
INFO RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 2601

UNCLAS STATE 061888

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU
SUBJECT: U.S. CONTRIBUTION TO THE UN ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE
TRUST FUND FOR ZIMBABWE ELECTION OBSERVERS

1. This is an action request. The Department instructs
USUN to deliver the letter in para 2 below to the UN
Electoral Assistance Division as soon as possible. No
original will follow. A follow-up letter will be supplied
once the funds can be formally obligated. The follow-up
letter will include the terms and conditions of the award,
and will require UN acknowledgment of the award. End action.

2. Begin text of letter:

Dear Mr. Jenness,

Thank you for your letter dated May 21, 2008, which requested
U.S. financial support for the United Nations Trust Fund for
Electoral Assistance. We appreciate the United Nations
Electoral Assistance Division,s effort to support the rapid
deployment of election observers from the African Union (AU)
and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the
second round of Zimbabwe,s presidential elections scheduled
for June 27, 2008.

The United States intends to contribute $1.35 million to the
United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance to support
election observation for the June 27 run-off election in
Zimbabwe. We will send to you very shortly another letter
that will be used as an award of the funds, but we are still
in the process of making the funds available so they can be
formally obligated.

Again, we thank you for your efforts in supporting the AU and
SADC in their mission to observe the run-off election in
Zimbabwe. We will watch the election process carefully, and
believe the AU and SADC election observers can help ensure
that the election proceeds smoothly in a fair and transparent
fashion.

Sincerely,
Kristen Silverberg
RICE

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