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