BRV REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR ITU COUNCIL CANDIDACY

UNCLAS CARACAS 000614 SIPDIS SIPDIS CIP/BA FOR CHOLIDAY/MGORDON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS VE SUBJECT: BRV REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR ITU COUNCIL CANDIDACY ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Post requests Department guidance to respond to the BRV diplomatic note No. 269 in para (2) dated January 25, 2006 requesting USG support Venezuela's candidacy for re-election as a member of the International Telecommunications Union council. A copy of the note has been faxed to CIP/BA, attn: Cecily Holiday. ¶2. (U) Begin Text: (Unofficial Embassy Translation): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Vice-Minister for North America, Multilateral Affairs Management Office, presents its compliments to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor to inform that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided to present its candidacy for re-election as a member of the International Telecommunications Union Council (UIT). These elections will take place during the Plenipotentiary Conference, in Analya, Turkey from November 15 through November 24, 2006. The International Telecommunications Union is the specialized international organization of the United Nations in charge of telecommunications regulation and planning worldwide. It consists of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries (which is the head body of the UIT and meets every four years); the Council; the Radio Communications, Normalization, and Development Sectors; and the General Secretariat. The Council is composed of members of the UIT elected by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries and acts as leader of the Conference as limited by the faculties delegated by the Conference itself. Venezuela is currently a member of the Union Council, whose mandate expires this year. It was also member of the UIT during the periods 1965-1989 and 1999-2002. Since the country resumed its participation in the Council in 1998, Venezuela, through its regulatory body in this area, CONATEL (National Telecommunications Commission) has been developing efforts aimed at maintaining an active presence in this organization through constant attendance at meetings and international fora sponsored by the UIT, as well as holding meetings of different study groups of the UIT on Venezuelan territory in order to encourage both the participation of representatives from different countries of the region and the dissemination of the information. In addition, Venezuela holds the Vice-Presidency for the American region at the Commission of Studies 1 in the Development Sector, for the 2002-2006 period, fact that implies recognition for the work done by the Venezuelan state. A possible re-election would allow Venezuela to obtain first-hand the most advanced information on what is happening around the world and to fully participate in the decision-making process of the UIT, since it is in the head of the Council where the directives that guide the sector according to what is established by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries are decided and approved. An eventual re-election in the UIT Council in addition to the presence of the country as member of the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL),would place Venezuela in the center of telecommunications worldwide, and would contribute to the strengthening of those services in our region by focusing efforts and negotiations in order to complete common projects. In line with the Venezuelan government and regarding the need to promote a new multipolar system, Venezuela has developed in the past few years efforts to achieve international objectives in the area of telecommunications that will eventually help in the process of positioning the country internationally, and for this reason we consider it important that Venezuela continue participating in the UIT in favor of the strengthening of the Organization, which will benefit all UIT members. For that purpose, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will greatly appreciate the valuable support that your distinguished Government could grant the referenced national candidacy, assuring that it will benefit the relations between our countries and will contribute to the Council's great work. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Vice Minister for North America, Multilateral Affairs Management Office, takes this opportunity to renew to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America, the assurances of its highest consideration. Caracas, January 25, 2006. End Text. WHITAKER