Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO373
2006-03-08 10:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA ALMOST CERTAINLY TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #0373 0671031 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081031Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2798 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0034 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0009 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9368 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0362
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000373
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA ALMOST CERTAINLY TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA
OVER VENEZUELA FOR NON-PERMANENT UNSC SEAT
REF: (A) COLOMBO 207 (B) STATE 20173
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000373
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA ALMOST CERTAINLY TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA
OVER VENEZUELA FOR NON-PERMANENT UNSC SEAT
REF: (A) COLOMBO 207 (B) STATE 20173
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador demarched Foreign Minister
Mangala Samaraweera March 8 on the need for
Guatemala, not Venezuela, to obtain the Latin
America seat on the UNSC this fall. Samaraweera
said, "At the moment, we are thinking along the
same lines. We are moving in that direction." He
noted that Guatemala had been very supportive of
Sri Lanka in international organizations over the
years; "we should reciprocate." Samaraweera
expressed concern that some radical political
parties would not be happy if Sri Lanka did not
support Venezuela. The Ambassador reminded him
that the vote in the General Assembly would be by
secret ballot.
SIPDIS
2. (C) Later the same day, the Ambassador saw
Foreign Secretary Palihakkara, who said that a
decision had been made and asked if the Minister
had conveyed that Sri Lanka would go along on
this. The Ambassador asked, "So, you will support
Guatemala?" "Yes," Palihakkara replied.
3. (C) Comment. From the Foreign Secretary's
remarks, we deduce that the decision has been
made, but the Minister was purposefully being a
bit ambiguous. It seems, however, that Sri Lanka
will be in the Guatemala column. End Comment
LUNSTEAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA ALMOST CERTAINLY TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA
OVER VENEZUELA FOR NON-PERMANENT UNSC SEAT
REF: (A) COLOMBO 207 (B) STATE 20173
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador demarched Foreign Minister
Mangala Samaraweera March 8 on the need for
Guatemala, not Venezuela, to obtain the Latin
America seat on the UNSC this fall. Samaraweera
said, "At the moment, we are thinking along the
same lines. We are moving in that direction." He
noted that Guatemala had been very supportive of
Sri Lanka in international organizations over the
years; "we should reciprocate." Samaraweera
expressed concern that some radical political
parties would not be happy if Sri Lanka did not
support Venezuela. The Ambassador reminded him
that the vote in the General Assembly would be by
secret ballot.
SIPDIS
2. (C) Later the same day, the Ambassador saw
Foreign Secretary Palihakkara, who said that a
decision had been made and asked if the Minister
had conveyed that Sri Lanka would go along on
this. The Ambassador asked, "So, you will support
Guatemala?" "Yes," Palihakkara replied.
3. (C) Comment. From the Foreign Secretary's
remarks, we deduce that the decision has been
made, but the Minister was purposefully being a
bit ambiguous. It seems, however, that Sri Lanka
will be in the Guatemala column. End Comment
LUNSTEAD