UNSC VOTE: NIGERIA LEANING TOWARD SUPPORT FOR VZ

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001414 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC VE NI SUBJECT: UNSC VOTE: NIGERIA LEANING TOWARD SUPPORT FOR VZ REF: A. STATE 20173 ¶B. SILSKI-HANKS EMAIL JUNE 2 Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for Reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Because Foreign Minister Adeniji was unavailable, Polcouns spoke to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ambassador Abdul bin Rindap regarding the Guatemalan and Venezuelan candidacies for the UNSC. Rindap confirmed to PolCouns that Nigeria is leaning towards a vote for Venezuela. He said that Nigeria has excellent bilateral relations with Venezuela, including some development projects. Membership in OPEC is a factor, as well, and Rindap said that Nigeria would also consider that relationship. Further, he said, "We feel that engagement, much as our policy with Cuba, is a much better way to engender change than isolation." Besides, he said that it seemed to Nigeria that the U.S. policy towards Venezuela was a "knee-jerk negative reaction to anything Venezuelan." Polcouns reminded Rindap how strongly the U.S. supports the Guatemalan candidacy. ¶2. (U) Post will continue to follow this issue and will report any new developments. FUREY