DEFEATING G-4 FORUM RESOLUTION ON UN REFORMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000374 SIPDIS FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/25/2015 TAGS: PREL LT UNGA UNSC SUBJECT: DEFEATING G-4 FORUM RESOLUTION ON UN REFORMS REF: (A) STATE 132429 (B) MASERU 364 (C) MASERU 355 CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: JUNE CARTER PERRY, AMBASSADOR, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador met with Lesotho's Foreign Minister Moleleki on most recent points on defeating the G-4 Forum Resolution July 19 and 25. Foreign Minister Moleleki reiterated the Government of Lesotho's support of the U.S. position on holding off on the UN Security Council proposal and restated his governments support for the overall UN Reform package. Moleleki said that the Chinese Ambassador resident in Maseru had approached him several times on this matter indicating the PRC's strong opposition to Japan attaining a UNSC seat. Lesotho's Foreign Minister and Prime Minister have been invited to Japan in early August and Moleleki is certain that this is part of Japan's campaign for a seat. The intention of the Government of Lesotho is to convince Japan that it is best to hold off on further discussion of the Security Council given the firm position of the U.S. in supporting Japan, opposition to the G-4 resolution and the PRC's strong opposition to Japan gaining a seat. ¶2. (C) We have emphasized the importance of UN members having adequate time for full discussion of UNSC expansion including the various proposals that have been put forward by the African Union (AU). In that regard, Moleleki added that there had been a meeting in London over the weekend, July 23-24, of African representatives including the AU Chair (Konare) and the outgoing Nigerian Chair as well as two (2) representatives of each of the African regional organizations to discuss further steps on Africa's Security Council posture. Ambassador pressed Foreign Minister Moleleki for confirmation that Lesotho will either vote NO or abstain when the G-4 resolution does come to the floor. Moleleki confirmed that they will do one of the two, vote NO or abstain, and said that his government was opposed to the resolution's consideration at this time. Ambassador asked directly if those instructions would be sent to the Lesotho Delegation in New York; FOMIN confirmed they would be sent. SIGNATURE