DEMARCHE: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000162 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2016 TAGS: PREL ER SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL REF: A. SECSTATE 20173 ¶B. SECSTATE 19516 Classified By: AMB Scott H. DeLisi. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador delivered ref a demarche to MFA Director General for the Americas and International Organizations, Ghirmai Ghebremariam on February 9. Ambassador reminded Ghirmai as well that Venezuela was only one of three nations that had opposed the IAEA reporting Iran to the Security Council. Given Eritrea's concerns about Iran (ref b), Ambassador urged that the GSE keep this in mind as it concerned the relative merits of Venezuela's and Guatemala's candidacy. Ghirmai has also noted in the past, in regard to the issue of Security Council reform, that he agrees with the USG view that it is important that members be credible and have a demonstrable record of support for UN principles, including a willingness to engage in peacekeeping. Noting Guatemala's record in that regard, and the fact that Guatemalan soldiers currently serve as part of the UN Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia, they seemed to fit the bill. ¶2. (C) Ghirmai promised to inform his mission in New York of our concerns and asked that USUN remain in contact with Eritrea's permrep on this issue. Ghirmai also promised that the GSE would continue to follow the matter in the months ahead. Although he did not indicate at this point whether the GSE would support Guatemala over Venezuela he did note, with a roll of his eyes, that he had heard Venezuela's Hugo Chavez speak to the UNGA last year and acknowledged that Chavez's remarks did little to contradict our characterization of Venezuela's role in international fora. DELISI