Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRIDGETOWN777
2006-05-05 19:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bridgetown
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR MAISTO PETITIONS CARIBBEAN FOREIGN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR ECIN ETRD KFPC KPAO OAS BB BF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0777/01 1251956
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051956Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2430
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1423
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0065
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000777 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/OAS, WHA/CAR, AND WHA/CEN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECIN ETRD KFPC KPAO OAS BB BF
TD, VE, XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MAISTO PETITIONS CARIBBEAN FOREIGN
MINISTERS

REF: BRIDGETOWN 635

Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000777

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/OAS, WHA/CAR, AND WHA/CEN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECIN ETRD KFPC KPAO OAS BB BF
TD, VE, XL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MAISTO PETITIONS CARIBBEAN FOREIGN
MINISTERS

REF: BRIDGETOWN 635

Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: U.S. Permanent Representative to the
Organization of American States (OAS),Ambassador John F.
Maisto, visited Bridgetown, Barbados, April 26-28 to attend
the U.K.-CARICOM Forum. His primary goal was to meet with
CARICOM Foreign Ministers to discuss the June OAS General
Assembly and garner support for Guatemala's bid for a seat on
the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) vice Venezuela. He had
individual meetings with six Foreign Ministers, plus pull
asides with several more. Ambassador Maisto granted an
exclusive interview to the Caribbean Media Corporation for
television, radio, and print distribution and held a
roundtable discussion with Political Science students from
the University of the West Indies (UWI),many of whom will be
participating in a model-OAS conference in Colombia later
this year.


2. (C) Ambassador Maisto's message to each of the Foreign
Ministers focused on the important achievements made during
the FMs' recent meeting in the Bahamas with Secretary Rice.
He emphasized that those same themes should be reflected in
the political declaration at the upcoming OAS General
Assembly in June, whose theme is "Good Governance and
Development in the Knowledge-based Society." He stressed
four key themes: representative democracy as reflected in
the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and which includes
long-term regional commitment to democracy-building in Haiti
and its reintegration into CARICOM; development, including
trade and investment; security cooperation, with particular

emphasis on the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism
(CICTE) and the run-up to the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007
and beyond; and natural disaster preparedness and relief. He
reviewed the pending Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights (IACHR) reports on Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador,
Venezuela, and Cuba at the General Assembly. The Ambassador
also strongly promoted the U.S. position in support of
Guatemala, instead of Venezuela, for the U.N. Security
Council seat in each of his meetings, citing Venezuela's
behavior at the recent Inter-American Committee Against
Terrorism (CICTE) meeting and its track record on issues
regarding weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as cause for
concern beyond bilateral or regional relations. His
admonition that Venezuela's actions affect U.S. security
interests and threatened the "viability of the UN" in
terrorism matters received varying degrees of interest and
engagement but garnered no official backing. END SUMMARY.

Grenada FM Elvin Nimrod
--------------


3. (C) During his April 26-28 visit to Barbados to attend the
U.K.-CARICOM Forum, U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS
Ambassador John Maisto met with Grenada Foreign Minister
Elvin Nimrod, the current Chairman of CARICOM,s Council for
Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR). Ambassador Kramer,
DCM Gilroy, and PolOff (notetaker) accompanied Ambassador
Maisto. In their April 26 discussion, Nimrod expressed the
opinion that the meeting with Secretary Rice had helped
remove the "chill" that had characterized U.S.-Caribbean
relations. When the Ambassador commented that the nature of
the relationship had been largely the result of differences
over Haiti, the FM added that Iraq and Article 98 had also
contributed. Regarding Venezuela's bid for a seat on the
UNSC, Nimrod responded by mentioning CARICOM member Belize's
border
dispute with the other candidate for the seat, Guatemala. He
explained that individual Caribbean countries would likely
take into account Venezuela's offer of oil with concessionary
financing through PetroCaribe. He also cited the impact high
energy prices were having on the region, which was undergoing
great "changes in the geopolitical landscape" as a result.


Barbados FM Dame Billie Miller
--------------


4. (C) Ambassador Maisto also met with Barbados Foreign
Minister Dame Billie Miller and MFA Permanent Secretary
Theresa Marshall on April 26. He was again accompanied by

Ambassador Kramer, DCM Gilroy, and PolOff (notetaker). The
meeting was open and collegial, with both sides speaking
freely. FM Miller began her response to Ambassador Maisto's
OAS proposal by pointing out that Haiti has many issues to
resolve and that development was of particular concern. She
noted the need to expand MINUSTAH's role to encompass the
entire country, to focus on institutional capacity-building,
and to ensure security beyond the presidential inauguration.
Recognizing that support for Haiti will be an expensive
long-term proposition, Miller expressed concern that
investment in other Caribbean states seemed to be
evaporating. Ambassador Maisto offered OAS expertise to act
as a catalyst to attract resources to strengthen institutions
and noted that the organization's Trade Unit is a resource to
be tapped in support of individual countries, and CARICOM,s
- trade agenda.


5. (C) In discussing upcoming elections in the region, both
parties recognized Guyana as a potential trouble spot. FM
Miller noted that an observation mission would need to go in
early and stay on the ground beyond the vote count. She
revealed that OAS Deputy Secretary General Ramdin had been to
see her, but opined that because he was of Surinamese
descent, he should not lead the OAS election observation team
to Guyana, as the Guyanese would not receive him well.
Miller suggested the OAS instead tap a regionally respected
figure, and although she could offer no specific
recommendations, said she would take this up with her
Caribbean counterparts.


6. (C) On the UNSC issue, FM Miller mentioned the "rumor" of
a third country consensus candidate, and the possibility of
Venezuela's voluntary withdrawal in that eventuality. She
cautioned that the recent maritime ruling by the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in The Hague (reftel) may affect
Barbados-Venezuela relations, and that the situation
warranted close monitoring. (Note: This ruling may also
affect Trinidad-Venezuela relations. End note.) She was
otherwise noncommittal.


Dominica FM Charles Savarin
--------------


7. (C) On April 26, Ambassador Maisto had an animated
exchange with Dominica Foreign Minister Charles Savarin
during the opening reception of the Forum. While Savarin was
cordial and attentive, his position was intractable regarding
Guatemala's bid for a seat on the UNSC. Speaking to
Ambassador Kramer on April 27, Savarin provided further
explanation, stating that it would be embarrassing for
CARICOM to support Guatemala's bid for a seat on the UNSC at
this time because of its withdrawal from the UN's good
offices procedure to settle the border dispute with Belize.
Guatemala could attempt to undo the damage and offer
something to CARICOM by explaining its position on the border
dispute, suggested the FM. Savarin also presented his
personal opinion that Belize is a difficult member of
CARICOM, often committing itself on issues before the
member-states could meet to formulate their typical consensus
decisions. The FM admitted to suggesting privately to other
regional diplomats that Belize leave CARICOM.

Bahamas FM Fred Mitchell
--------------


8. (C) In an April 27 breakfast meeting, Bahamian Foreign
Minister Fred Mitchell listened attentively to Ambassador
Maisto's points. He agreed with the need for a public
declaration at the end of the June OAS General Assembly that
reflected the substance and tenor of the U.S.-CARICOM joint
statement at the Bahamas meeting. On Haiti, Mitchell said
CARICOM plans to meet with president-elect Rene Preval
shortly after his inauguration to discuss Haiti's
reintegration into CARICOM. Mitchell said the Bahamas would
have trouble supporting Guatemala's UNSC bid given that
country's border dispute with CARICOM-member Belize.
Mitchell also raised the possibility of a third regional UNSC
candidate as an alternative and asked if the rumor that
Venezuela would abandon its candidacy were true. (Comment:
Mitchell's mention of a third regional UNSC candidate
suggests his country may not want to support Venezuela, but

needs another option besides Guatemala. Other Caribbean
Foreign Ministers expressed this view privately as well. End
Comment.)

Jamaica FM Anthony Hylton
--------------


9. (C) Following the final session of the Forum on April 27,
Ambassador Maisto met with Jamaica Foreign Minister Anthony
Hylton, who was generally receptive to the demarche. Hylton
opined that OAS security cooperation was
integral, especially with regard to the upcoming Cricket
World Cup which could be undermined (an understatement) by
failure to coordinate security preparations. The FM
expressed Jamaica's intention to play a "very direct role" in
Haiti's development, both through CARICOM and beyond, as part
of its "good neighbor policy." He mentioned that drug and
weapons trafficking and refugee issues were of particular
concern, and echoed FM Mitchell's statement regarding a
CARICOM Ministerial Mission to Haiti after Preval's
inauguration. Hylton also noted his desire to attend the
upcoming donor conference in Brazil, citing Jamaica's ability
to contribute sincere interest and areas of expertise in lieu
of cash. Regarding the UNSC nomination, Hylton revealed that
Belize Foreign Minister Eamon Courtney had earlier expressed
to him his country's disappointment with developments in the
border dispute with Guatemala, but Hylton offered no
resolution to the matter.

Trinidad and Tobago FM Knowlson Gift
--------------


10. (C) Ambassador Maisto had an open meeting with Trinidad
and Tobago Foreign Minister Knowlson Gift late in the day on
April 27. After hearing the Ambassador out, Gift expressed
concern that an IACHR review of Cuba might garner unwanted
criticism of the U.S. for actions at Guantanamo Bay. The
Ambassador countered that comparing the U.S. response to
terrorist acts by internationally recognized terrorist
entities outside the standard
rules of war with old-style persecution of political
dissidents within a Stalinist dictatorship Castro,s Cuba -
was like comparing "grapes to kumquats." Regarding
Guatemala's candidacy for the UNSC, Gift (like previous FMs)
noted hopefully that there might be a third candidate in the
making and that if that candidacy materialized, Venezuela
might reconsider its bid. Ambassador Maisto pointed out that
the Dominican Republic (rumored to be the potential 3rd
party) would not be submitting a candidate, as the DomRep
ForMin had told us. Gift assessed the situation
realistically, noting that both Guatemala and Venezuela were
embroiled in border disputes with Caribbean sister-nations.
He expressed hope that by September, when the vote takes
place, the dynamics of the border dispute might change, as
the CARICOM countries were currently sitting "between the
Devil and the Deep Blue Sea."

Media and Roundtable Events
--------------


11. (U) On the morning of April 27, Ambassador Maisto gave an
interview to Caribbean Media Corporation reporter Kaymar
Jordan, for a segment on the television program Prime Time
Caribbean as well as print and radio distribution. The
one-on-one interview focused on topics raised in opening
remarks by Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur at the
U.K.-CARICOM Forum, which suggested that developed countries
were turning their backs on the Caribbean. Ambassador Maisto
deftly answered the reporter's queries, focusing on U.S.
commitment to support democracy and development, and to
cooperate on security and natural disaster response. He
pointed out that governments do not invest in other
countries, but that by creating an investor-friendly
environment, governments could pave the way for job creation
and prosperity. He emphasized that trade agreements between
small states and large states could be equitable for both
parties, citing the example of the Dominican Republic as the
6th largest trading partner in the hemisphere for the U.S.


12. (U) Ambassador Maisto met with 15 students from the
Government, Political and Social Sciences School at the
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, for a

roundtable discussion the afternoon of April 27. Several
of the students will be representatives at the model-OAS
conference in Colombia later this year. After outlining the
mandate and methodology of the OAS and general U.S. goals in
support of democracy, development and security in the western
hemisphere, Ambassador Maisto opened the floor to questions
from the students. A lively, intellectual discussion ensued
with topics including: OAS involvement in electoral
processes, including the upcoming Guyanese polls and concern
over the transparency of the 2000 U.S. Presidential election;
concern for shifts in democratic trends in Latin America;
issues of trade development and regional trade agreements;
natural disaster management and minimizing loss of life; and
the threat of terrorism in the region. The Ambassador nimbly
fielded all of the thoughtful questions, including one
pointed challenge regarding Aristide's ouster from Haiti.
The Ambassador replied that while Artistide had been elected
democratically, he had not governed democratically, which
caused the breakdown in the relationship between the
government and the governed. The Ambassador explained that
the choice to leave Haiti had been Aristide's, despite the
former president's subsequent statements to the contrary.


COMMENT
--------------


13. (C) Riding the positive wave of the CARICOM Foreign
Ministers' meeting with Secretary Rice, Ambassador Maisto's
interlocutors agreed on the necessity of a substantive
political declaration at the upcoming OAS General Assembly,
that reflects the key issues discussed between them and the
Secretary. All parties also agreed on the importance of

SIPDIS
supporting Haiti's return to democracy and acknowledged that
it would be a lengthy process. Clearly, the Belize view of
border dispute between Belize and Guatemala, and Venezuelan
petrodiplomacy in the Eastern Caribbean make agreement on the
UNSC candidacy more problematic, for now. Despite some of
the FMs' reservations about Venezuela, persuading the
Caribbeans to turn their backs on Chavez will be difficult,
absent a third candidate or progress, or perceived progress,
on the Belize-Guatemala border dispute and a different Belize
position within CARICOM. End Comment.


14. (U) Ambassador Maisto has cleared this cable.
GILROY