MALDIVES SUPPORTS U.S. RE-ELECTION TO THE ITU

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001847 SIPDIS SIPDIS EB/CIP/MA FOR SSHIPMAN IO/T FOR JNAMDE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ECPS ITU MV SUBJECT: MALDIVES SUPPORTS U.S. RE-ELECTION TO THE ITU COUNCIL AND U.S. NOMINEE TO THE ITU RADIO REGULATIONS BOARD REF: SECSTATE 168720 Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Mr. Abdullah Hameed, Director of Protocol at the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Mohamed Asim, High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives in Colombo via diplomatic note on October 12 and followed up several times requesting a response. Econoff telephoned MFA Desk Officer for the Americas Ibrahim Shaheed on November 7, and he confirmed that Maldives plans to support the U.S. for re-election to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council and the U.S. nominee for election to the ITU Radio Regulations Board (RRB). Maldives's delegate to the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in November 2006 will be Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Transportation and Communication. BLAKE