VZCZCXRO4126
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #1460 3232220
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182220Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8747
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001460 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CEN (ALBERT KRAAIMOORE) AND WHA/CAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV NU CA
SUBJECT: CANADA CRITICAL OF NICARAGUAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 
 
REF: STATE 122262 
 
¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel demarche on November 18, 
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade 
Nicaragua desk officer Sandy Ewart confirmed that Canada 
fully shares U.S. concerns regarding the November 9 
Nicaraguan municipal elections. He noted that the Canadian 
Embassy in Costa Rica (which covers Nicaragua) had issued a 
press release on November 13 expressing its concerns over the 
elections.  (Full text in para 2.) 
 
¶2.  (U)  Begin Text 
 
Press Release 
Embassy of Canada 
San Jose, Costa Rica 
 
13 November 2008 
 
Canada Expresses Concern Over Nicaraguan Elections 
 
The Government of Canada expressed its concern over the 
incidence of violence, lack of national electoral observers 
and lack of transparency during the November 9th municipal 
elections in Nicaragua. 
 
Reports of intimidation, irregularities in voting procedures 
and counting on Sunday, as well as the violence which 
followed, resulting in loss of life, are particularly 
worrisome.  The barring of independent observers during the 
election, which is critical to ensuring a transparent 
electoral process, is of particular concern. 
 
Canada joins the Organization of American States, the 
European Union, and the United States in their statements of 
concern over the election. 
 
Canada urges all parties to work openly and peacefully toward 
a just solution to the situation.  It also strongly urges the 
Government of Nicaragua to uphold the principles of the 
Inter-American Democratic Charter and to ensure that the 
election results reflect the will of Nicaraguans.  Canada 
actively promotes free and fair democratic processes in the 
Americas and strongly encourages consideration of proposals 
made by Nicaraguan civil society and religious leaders for 
re-assessing existing results with independent domestic and 
foreign observers. 
 
End text 
 
Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at 
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada 
 
WILKINS