PRESIDENT MEJIA AND FOREIGN MINISTER RESPOND TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 006538

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR (MCISAAC) AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2008
TAGS: PREL DR
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MEJIA AND FOREIGN MINISTER RESPOND TO
U.S. URGINGS ON ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS IN UNGA

REF: A. USUN NY 02824


B. STATE 312874

C. STATE 305553

Classified By: DCM Lisa Kubiske, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Charge delivered reftel B demarche to GODR Foreign
Minister Francisco Guerrero Prats on November 12. Ambassador
Hertell placed a follow-up call to the Foreign Minister on
November 13, to emphasize the importance of the UNGA votes.
Guerrero Prats said that normally the Dominican Republic
would vote with the Rio Group, in these cases against the US
positions. However, in regard to the two votes on the floor
today, the Dominican PermRep had been instructed to abstain.
The abstention would align the Dominican Republic with the
Central American countries. Guerrero Prats stated that he
felt these abstentions should garner some good will from the
USG.


2. (C) Ambassador Hertell also spoke with President Hipolito
Mejia on November 13, raising reftel B points. President
Mejia said he understood why the votes are important to the
US and that he would immediately call one of his UN advisors
regarding the matter. NOTE: The conversation between Mejia
and the Ambassador took place after the scheduled start of
22nd meeting of the UN Fourth Committee. Therefore, even if
Mejia decided to instruct the GODR PermRep to vote with the
US, it is not clear that the new instructions could have been
delivered to the PermRep in a timely manner. End Note.
HERTELL