LETTER FROM FONMIN MILLER TO SECSTATE ON BARBADOS ECOSOC

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 001471 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR (COLLINS) DEPT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O SIPDIS E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL OPDC BB XL SUBJECT: LETTER FROM FONMIN MILLER TO SECSTATE ON BARBADOS ECOSOC CNADIDACY REF: A) BRIDGETOWN 01276 B) DIPLOMATIC NOTE NO. IR/2006/182 C) LETTER TO SECRETARY RICE FROM MINISTER MILLER DATED 8/14/06 ¶1. Embassy Bridgetown received the following diplomatic note and letter to Secretary Rice from Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dame Billie A. Miller, Government of Barbados. The letter has been forwarded to WHA/CAR via diplomatic pouch registration number 8970080 on August 22, 2006. ¶2. Begin text of diplomatic note: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to request that the enclosed letter from the Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade the Hon. Dame Billie A. Miller be transmitted to the Hon. Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. August 18, 2006. End text of diplomatic note. ¶3. Begin text of enclosed letter: August 14, 2006 Her Excellency The Hon. Dr. Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State SIPDIS Department of State 2001 C St N.W. Washington D.C. 20520 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Excellency, I have the honour to inform you that the Government of Barbados has presented its candidature for membership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the period 2007-2009 at elections to be held in September/October of this year during the 61st session of the UN General Assembly. The candidature of Barbados has received the unanimous endorsement of the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as the only CARICOM candidate in this election. You would wish to be aware that within the Latin American and Caribbean regional group, Barbados is the only small island developing state which will be seeking election to ECOSOC for the 2007-2009 term of office. In recognition of the long-standing and friendly ties which exist between the United States of America and Barbados, I am writing to request your Government's invaluable support of our candidature. Barbados has only had one previous opportunity to serve on the Council, which was during the period 1979-1981. Despite this, we have always been closely engaged in the work of the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies and have played a key role in ensuring that the development agenda of the UN coincides with the interests and expectations of the developing world. Furthermore, as a small state, we have always sought to ensure that small states and other vulnerable groups of countries receive the international attention and support they require and deserve. Barbados strongly believes that the ECOSOC should play a more meaningful and decisive role in global economic and social affairs, as envisaged by the UN Charter. We therefore attach paramount importance to the work of the ECOSOC, its subsidiary bodies, and the UN Funds and Programmes in the promotion of economic and social progress, sustainable development, good governance and the rule of law, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and environmental sustainability. Barbados supports ongoing efforts to further strengthen the ECOSOC both by enhancing its existing mandates and by entrusting it with important new functions. We are convinced that these efforts should result in an ECOSOC which serves as a quality platform for engagement on global policies and trends in the economic, social, environmental and humanitarian field. I look forward to your valuable support for Barbados' candidature and I extend to you, in advance, my sincerest gratitude. Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. /s/ Billie A. Miller End text of enclosed letter. KRAMER