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.

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