GHANA ON THE G-4 RESOLUTION: AN ADVOCATE OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001448 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2015 TAGS: AORC GH PREL UNGA SUBJECT: GHANA ON THE G-4 RESOLUTION: AN ADVOCATE OF THE AU POSITION REF: A. STATE 134316 ¶B. STATE 132429 Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for Reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) On July 22, the Ambassador delivered ref A points on the USG position on the G-4 resolution to Ghanainan Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo. She urged Ghana to oppose the G-4 resolution or abstain, stressing the need to avoid a divisive debate on UN Security Council membership. He responded "I hear you -- I hear you loud and clear" but had no further comment. ¶2. (C) On July 21, PolOff had delivered the same points to MFA Supervising Director/Legal, Multilateral and Passports Dept. Nana Bema Kumi. The GOG introduced the original AU resolution in Libya, and Kumi says the GOG is actively lobbying on behalf of the AU resolution to all other groups in New York. (Note: post understanding is that the AU resolution envisions expanding the UNSC to include two African permanent members, with veto power, and five African non-permanent members. End note.) ¶3. (C) Kumi told Poloff she had met with at least seven missions in Accra who have lobbied the GOG to support either the G-4 resolution or the Coffee Club proposal (which supports expansion limited to ten nonpermanent seats without veto power). Although the GOG has made no commitment to the G-4, she views the G-4 and AU proposals as variations of the same model for UNSC expansion, as proposed in the UN's December 2004 report "Toward A More Secure World." In this way, she made it clear the GOG will not support the Coffee Club proposal and is working hard to secure an immediate vote on expansion. She emphasized that the GOG wants African countries to receive not just permanent seats but also the veto. ¶4. (C) Kumi was mildly disappointed that the USG does not favor an immediate vote. She said several countries have argued that UNSC reform issue may jeopardize other UN reforms, but she believes expansion would make more countries feel a significant part of the UN. She took note of the USG's support for a UNSC seat for Japan and said it would be highly unlikely that Japan could receive a seat without other regions and countries receiving seats. She did not challenge the USG's criteria for a permanent seat head on, but thought Africa deserved two seats because of its population size. ¶5. (C) Kumi made clear the GOG's preference for the AU resolution, but said the GOG's final position would be a product of negotiations. She did not expect the GOG to commit to any other proposal than the AU resolution within the next week, but she added that only "a merger of ideas" would pass the UNGA. YATES