GHANA'S RESPONSE ON ICJ CANDIDATE

UNCLAS ACCRA 002168 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: GH UNSC UNGA SUBJECT: GHANA'S RESPONSE ON ICJ CANDIDATE REF: A. SECSTATE 179062 ¶B. SECSTATE 80697 ¶C. EMAIL DUGAN-STILWELL ¶1. (U) On Oct. 5, PolOff delivered talking points and curriculum vitae of International Court of Justice candidate Thomas Buergenthal per reftel A to Supervising Director of Multilateral, Legal and Passports Nana Bema Kumi at Ghana's Foreign Ministry. Kumi said the GOG ordinarily develops lists of candidates at its Mission to the UN in New York. However, she said because Buergenthal is currently serving on the Court, his re-election would likely be straightforward as long as he has the support of the Western Europe and Other States (WEOG) regional group and faces no other candidate. ¶2. (SBU) On Oct. 12, UN/IO informed post (see reftel C) that WEOG does not endorse candidates as the court's seats are not allocated according to geography. However, the Court's tradition is to elect two WEOG candidates, and the U.S., New Zealand and Spain all have candidates in the race. ¶3. (SBU) On Oct. 19, PolOff conveyed to Kumi that Buergenthal's re-election would be contested and inquired whether the GOG had decided on a candidate. Kumi said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director of Legal was traveling to Addis Ababa, and when he returned Oct. 21 she would work the issue with him and the Attorney General. BRIDGEWATER