BAHRAIN: CUBAN CANDIDACY FOR THE ILO GOVERNING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000786 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 TAGS: ELAB PHUM PREL BA CU BB ILO SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: CUBAN CANDIDACY FOR THE ILO GOVERNING BODY REF: STATE 94818 Classified by A/DCM Helen H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ chief May 31 delivered reftel demarche concerning Cuba's candidacy for the International Labor Organization (ILO) Governing Body to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho. Asking P/E chief not to take notes, Shaikho said he wanted to support the U.S. position that Cuba not be elected to the Governing Body, but there were many in the Bahraini MFA who remember a period when Cuba was helpful to Bahrain in the UN and who would want to vote in favor of Cuba in its election bid. Focusing on two of the talking points, Shaikho said it would help him if the USG could provide him with detailed and specific information on (1) how Cuba has failed to meet its obligations under ILO conventions and rejected ILO offers of technical assistance, and (2) Barbados's history of cooperation with the ILO. He was confident he could secure a supportive vote if provided the evidence requested. ¶2. (C) Shaikho said that the GOB was pursuing the employment of a Bahraini citizen (unnamed) in the ILO secretariat. He claimed that no Bahrainis are employed by the secretariats of UN organizations, and stated that the Bahraini PermRep might approach U.S. Mission Geneva for its support. MONROE