ILO: CUBA AND VENEZUELA REPRISALS AGAINST

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 002619

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR DRL, IO; GENEVA FOR PSA AND LABOR ATTACHE; DEPT
LABOR FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ELAB DR CU
SUBJECT: ILO: CUBA AND VENEZUELA REPRISALS AGAINST
DOMINICAN CANDIDATE TO CHAIR ANNUAL MEETINGS IN JUNE

REF: SANTO DOMINGO 1597


1. Dominican Minister of Labor Milton Ray Guevara mentioned
to EcoPol counselor on April 28 at the dedication of a Dept
of Labor sponsored program that the Venezuelan and Cuban
missions in Geneva are lobbying against his candidacy to
chair the ILO annual meetings, specifically because they
perceived that the Dominican Republic had cast the decisive
vote on the UNHRC resolution on Cuba.


2. Ray Guevara said that the Canadian mission is being
supportive, but he appeared concerned about the prospect that
the Americas group might not put him forward as its candidate
if the Venezuelans and Cubans persist. He said that CARICOM
states, previously leaning his way, are now hesitating.


3. Ray Guevara is well and favorably known to the Embassy
Santo Domingo; we ask that the Department (WHA and IO) and
Mission Geneva consider measures to counteract the campaign
against Ray Guevara, which is to some extent a deliberately
anti-U.S. effort.

HERTELL