SLOVAKIA WILL SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR NON-PERMANENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000105 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2021 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC UN GT VE LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA WILL SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UNSC REF: STATE 20173 Classified By: CDA a.i. Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and ( D). ¶1. (C) Slovak MFA Director for UN and International Organizations Roman Buzek and UNSC Coordinator Marcel Pesko told us February 10 that Slovakia will support Guatemala for the Group of Latin American Countries' non-permanent seat on the UNSC (reftel). Buzek pointed out that -- in addition to sharing USG views on Venezuela's membership -- Slovakia has a reciprocal support agreement with Guatemala stipulating that Slovakia will support Guatemala for UNSC membership in exchange for Guatemala's support for Slovakia's ECOSOC candidacy in 2009; Buzek said that Slovakia "likes to keep its written agreements." ¶2. (C) Pesko asked us to provide "off the record" guidance from Washington as to how the USG sees the October UNSC election shaping up, as the MFA is interested in whether the vote will divide Latin America. He voiced his concern that the vote could have the effect of isolating Venezuela, and "nobody wants another Cuba." SILVERMAN