(C) BELIZE: FOREIGN MINISTER MAINTAINS GOB NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELIZE 000459 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS UNSC BH GU VZ SUBJECT: (C) BELIZE: FOREIGN MINISTER MAINTAINS GOB NOT ACTIVELY LOBBYING IN SUPPORT OF VENEZUELA'S BID FOR UNSC SEAT REF: A. STATE 42299 ¶B. BELIZE 243 Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Dieter, for reason 1.5(d). ¶1. (C) Over a private luncheon on May 18, the Government of Belize (GoB)'s Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Courtenay indicated the following to Ambassador Dieter: (A) He wanted "to make clear" that Belize was not actively lobbying other CARICOM members to vote against Guatemala's election to the UNSC; he hoped to dispel any such rumors. (B) The GoB had committed verbally to support Venezuela; nevertheless, it was not certain that the GoB would in fact cast its vote for Venezuela in October. (C) The GoB appreciated CARICOM's "solidarity with Belize" in regard to the longstanding border dispute with Guatemala. Nevertheless, in regard to the UNSC vote, he believed some CARICOM members would abstain because they would be reticent to support Venezuela. (D) The GOB was watching closely to see how Guatemala would cooperate in the prospective relocation of the residents of Santa Rosa back into Guatemala. This would be an important consideration for other CARICOM members, as well. If Guatemala were cooperative on resolution of the Santa Rosa issue, the GoB would be open to "reexamining its position" with respect to the UNSC vote in October. ¶2. (C) Amb. Dieter commented to FM Courtenay that, given the border dispute, he could understand why the GoB would not embrace a Guatemalan candidacy; however, outright opposition to Guatemala, or active support for Venezuela, would be a different matter. DIETER