Cablegate: Canadian Prime Minister Praises Afghan Elections

Thursday, 20 August 2009, 8:08 pm
Cable: Wikileaks
Ref: 09OTTAWA642

VZCZCXRO7575
OO RUEHDBU RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHIK RUEHMT RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHSL
RUEHVC RUEHYG
DE RUEHOT #0642 2322040
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 202040Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9771
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000642

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM AF CA
SUBJECT: CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER PRAISES AFGHAN ELECTIONS

1. (U) In remarks to reporters in Pangnirtun, Nunavut on
August 20, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that "what is
taking place in Afghanistan is remarkable" and praised the
2009 Afghan elections -- "warts and all," noting the
inherent difficulties involved in elections in a country that
had gone through "thirty years of civil war" and "without any
real history of democratic governance." He especially lauded
the contributions of Canadians -- military, diplomats, and
development workers -- to the electoral process, along with
other allies.

Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /

HOPPER

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