BARBADOS AND EASTERN CARIBBEAN TO BOYCOTT ACP

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 002145 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR AND AF/SPG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SOCI SU XL SUBJECT: BARBADOS AND EASTERN CARIBBEAN TO BOYCOTT ACP SUMMIT IN KHARTOUM REF: STATE 194464 ¶1. (U) Per reftel instructions, talking points discouraging governments from attending the 7-8 December African Caribbean Pacific Group of States (ACP) Summit in Khartoum were delivered under cover of Diplomatic Notes (Antigua #1655, Barbados #1656, Dominica #1657, St. Kitts #1658, St. Lucia #1659, St. Vincent #1660) on December 5, 2006. The original Diplomatic Notes were also mailed on this date. ¶2. (SBU) Post followed up with phone calls to Eastern Caribbean MFAs and received the following responses: -- Barbados MFA Permanent Secretary Theresa Marshall told Charge Gilroy that Foreign Minister Dame Billie Miller will not/not attend the ACP Summit. Marshall convinced Dame Billie, the Caribbean regional representative for the ACP, that her presence would be construed as support for President Bashir's actions. Miller decided sending such a signal would be unwise and would undercut AU and UN efforts to bring peace to the Darfur region. -- St. Lucia MFA PermSec Cosmos Richardson told PolOff that the Government of St. Lucia decided a month ago not to attend because of the human rights atrocities in Sudan. The Prime Minister personally made this decision in consultation with Richardson. -- St. Kitts and Nevis MFA PermSec Theresa Nisbett confirmed to PolCouns her government's disapproval of Sudanese human rights abuses and belief the Caribbean should boycott the ACP session. GILROY