DEMARCHE DELIVERED: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000455 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNP BHARRIS, WHA/PPC RYONEOKA, AND WHA/CAR PASS TO WHAC COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC GT VE UN XL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL REF: STATE 27055 Classified By: DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Post delivered reftel talking points regarding the competing Venezuelan and Guatemalan candidacies for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council to the MFAs of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Of the seven Eastern Caribbean countries, only the Government of St. Vincent (GOSV) has already made a decision on the matter, informing us that it has pledged its support to Venezuela. MFA Permanent Secretary Patricia Martin cited the GOSV's strong ties to Venezuela and the aid received through the PetroCaribe oil accord as factors that led to this decision. MFA officials from Barbados, Dominica, and Grenada said that their governments are presently considering the matter. Antigua, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia have not offered responses to the demarche. ¶2. (C) The UNSC candidacies will be discussed at the upcoming CARICOM meeting in April, according to Barbados MFA Permanent Secretary Teresa Marshall. While Barbados has yet to reach a SIPDIS decision on the matter, the PermSec responded negatively to Guatemala's candidacy, citing its unhelpful stance in a border dispute with CARICOM member Belize. Marshall explained that CARICOM member-states reiterate their support for Belize in this ongoing dispute at each of the organization's meetings. KRAMER