USG SUPPORT FOR FLORES OAS/SG CANDIDACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000168 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2015 TAGS: PREL AORC JM OAS SUBJECT: USG SUPPORT FOR FLORES OAS/SG CANDIDACY REF: (A) SECSTATE 10956 (B) 2004 KINGSTON 3314 Classified By: CDA THOMAS C. TIGHE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Charg spoke to MFA Minister of State Delano Franklyn on January 19 and delivered the talking points provided in REFTEL concerning U.S. support for the candidacy of former Salvadoran President Flores for OAS Secretary General. Franklyn responded that although he was aware that at least two CARICOM nations had purportedly decided on a candidate for the OAS/SG race, Jamaica did not at this time have a preferred candidate. ¶2. (C) Franklyn stated that it is Jamaica's view that all CARICOM members should attempt to reach consensus for a single candidate when the Heads of Government confer at the CARICOM Intercessional meeting in Paramaribo next month. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: In December, FM Knight told Ambassadors Maisto and Cobb that "if Flores is the best candidate, we will go for him," though the Minister clearly felt little enthusiasm for that prospect. Later that month, while pushing his own country's candidate at a reception, the Chilean ambassador told POL/ECON Chief that unnamed diplomatic interlocutors had privately expressed to him their concern that Flores was "too close to the U.S." TIGHE