DÉLÉGATION FRANÇAISE A L’ASSEMBLÉE PARLEM  ENTAIRE DE L’OTAN ASSEMBLÉE PARLEMENTA  IRE DE L’OTAN Le Président Le Président Paris, 8 September 2005 For the attention of Heads of Parliamentary Delegations to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Dear Colleagues, The International Secretariat of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) sent an  e-mail  on  23  August  informing  you  that the  Electoral  Observation  Mission to  Afghanistan (scheduled for 18 September) had been cancelled for logistical reasons. I  would  like  to  inform  you  that  this  decision  was  taken  without  my  agreement,  and with  neither  the  Secretary  General  of  NATO,  Mr.  Jaap  de  Hoop  Scheffer,  nor  myself  being informed. I spoke with him on this matter this morning. This matter was also raised yesterday morning during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, which is extremely disappointed that our Parliamentary Assembly is unable to take part in the observation of the legislative elections in  Afghanistan, while  the European Parliament and the OSCE  are maintaining their missions! Taking  into  consideration  that  NATO  troops  are  engaged  in  Afghanistan,  the  North  Atlantic Council wishes our Assembly’s mission to be maintained. As  a  result,  Mr.  Jaap  de  Hoop  Scheffer  and  I  have  agreed  to  restore  our  Electoral Observation Mission. This mission has even more importance as it fulfils the promise we made to  President  Karzaï  last  April  and  our  presence  is  a  guarantee  that  the  legislative  elections  in Afghanistan   conform   with   democratic   practices.   Furthermore,   it  is   inconceivable   that   the NATO PA not be present in Afghanistan to give political support to Alliance Forces, while the European Parliament, the OSCE and numerous national parliaments will be sending observers. I understand that this incident may cause problems for the agendas of our Assembly members,  and  this  is  regrettable.  In  due  course,  I  will  clear  up  the  reasons  for  this  incident.   Despite this complication, I would be grateful if you could forward this information as quickly as   possible   to   your   colleagues   so   that   as   many   Parliamentarians   as   possible   can   go   to Afghanistan. Furthermore, I will arrange a Bureau meeting in the next few days in order to shed light  on  this  incident  and  to  improve  communications  between  NATO  and  its  Parliamentary Assembly. Pierre LELLOUCHE