MOZAMBIQUE: DEMARCHE ON CUBAN CANDIDACY FOR THE

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000655 SIPDIS PASS TO IO/T - DRISCOLL, IO/S - JOHNSTON, AND AF/S - HTREGER GENEVA FOR CHAMBERLIN AND KRUGLIKOVA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BB CU ELAB PHUM PREL MZ ILO SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: DEMARCHE ON CUBAN CANDIDACY FOR THE ILO GOVERNING BODY REF: A. MASERU 260 ¶B. STATE 094818 ¶1. On March 24, poloff delivered reftel demarche to Ilidio Caifaz, Director of National Studies, Ministry of Labor. Caifaz stated he would share the talking points with the Minister of Labor in their meeting later this week, but gave no indication of which candidate the GRM would support should the issue come to vote at the upcoming International Labor Conference in Geneva. ¶2. Comment: At the recent AU Labor Affairs Commission meeting in Pretoria, the majority's view was to support Cuba's candidacy (ref A). Mozambique traditionally votes along AU lines and there is little indication that the practice would change with this vote. Mozambique also maintains close ties with Cuba. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abreu is currently in Havana for the intergovernmental meetings aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Wysham