Comoros on Guatemala for the UNSC

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001177 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E DEPT FOR AF/RSA (HOUSTON),IO/UNP (HARRIS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC GT VE CN SUBJECT: Comoros on Guatemala for the UNSC REF: A) STATE 173465 B) STATE 159380 ¶1. (SBU) After repeated attempts throughout the day, Charge was unable to contact a senior official of the Union of the Comoros to discuss the UNGA vote on membership on the UNSC as requested in Ref ¶A. President Sambi is apparently traveling in Saudi Arabia and will not return to Comoros until Friday, October 20. Foreign Minister Jaffar is also traveling abroad and Vice President Ikililou Dhoinine, the highest level government official remaining in country during this period of the end of Ramadan and leading into the beginning of Id Al-Fitr, was unavailable or otherwise unreachable. ¶2. (SBU) Under the circumstances, Post considers it likely that the Comoran PermRep remains under instructions to continue supporting Guatemala for the UNSC seat, especially considering President Sambi's positive response to A/S Frazer's demarche during their meeting 21 September (Ref B). ¶3. (SBU) Embassy will resume efforts on Thursday, October 19, to seek an appropriate interlocutor to urge steadfast support of Guatemala's candidacy. We will forward any further information or responses septel. SIBLEY