Cablegate: Demarche On Nicaraguan Municipal Elections -

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1455 3251221
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201221Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6501
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001455

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - A. KRAAIMOORE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL NU GT
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON NICARAGUAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS -
GUATEMALAN RESPONSE

REF: STATE 122262

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Drew G. Blakeney for reasons 1.4 (b&d
).

1. (C) Pol/Econ Couns delivered reftel demarche Nov. 19 to
Carlos Raul Morales, Director General for Bilateral Affairs
of the Guatemalan MFA, and North America Desk Officer Sandra
Jovel. Morales said the GOG concurs with the USG's
assessment of the situation in Nicaragua, and with the urgent
need for a transparent vote recount. He confided that
Guatemala's ambassador to Nicaragua had requested the
Guatemalan MFA's permission to observe the elections, but
permission was denied due to irregularities in the GON's
approach to international observation. The widespread
irregularities of the November 9 elections set a worrying
precedent for the next round of presidential elections, which
had the potential to be much more destabilizing, Morales
opined.

2. (C) The GOG is deeply concerned by the most recent events
in Nicaragua, Morales said, which were out of step with the
last 18 years of regional progress toward democracy and
stability. Instability in any one Central American country
would impact the others. Morales agreed that a transparent
recount would be of paramount importance, but the GOG would
not join public calls for a recount. Per Articles 6 and 12
of the 1991 Tegucigalpa Protocol, the GOG would not publicly
criticize the GON; rather, any potential criticisms could be
raised at a SICA (Central American Integration System)
Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.

3. (C) Comment: Embassy does not anticipate that the GOG
will take a leadership role in addressing the irregularities
and outcomes of Nicaragua's November 9 elections.
Nonetheless, the GOG's concerns about the potential regional
impact are genuine.
McFarland

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