UNDECIDED ON UNSYG AND ON VENEZUELAN CANDIDACY FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 000441 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO, IO/UNP, IO/PSC, AF/RSA AND AF/W PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2011 TAGS: PREL KPKO UN UNSC SG GT VE SUBJECT: UNDECIDED ON UNSYG AND ON VENEZUELAN CANDIDACY FOR UNSC, SENEGAL WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION REF: A. STATE 023591 ¶B. STATE 022833 ¶C. STATE 020173 Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On February 22, Charge made Ref A demarche to Acting Foreign Minister Claude Absa Diallo. While Ambassador Diallo appreciated U.S. interest in Senegal,s candidacy, she said that, after lengthy consultations, the Government of Senegal has decided not to present its candidacy for the new Peacebuilding Commission. Diallo noted that Senegal is neither one of the top 10 financiers of peacekeeping, nor has it historically been one of the top ten contributors of troops. While the latter has changed in recent years, Senegal has decided not to seek a seat on the Peacebuilding Commission before 2007. ¶2. (C) When Charge asked if the decision were related to Senegal,s own desire to secure a seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC),Ambassador Diallo said that she thought expansion of the Security Council was off the table until after the election of a new UN Secretary General (UNSYG). Charge then asked if Senegal has a preferred candidate; Diallo replied that South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand have all lobbied the GOS on behalf of their candidates. However, Senegal understands that other Asian candidates may yet emerge, and the GOS has not made a decision. She added that she was aware that the U.S. was not committed to identifying an Asian candidate, but Senegal believed that a suitable Asian cold be found, and Senegal strongly supports regiona rotation. ¶3. (C) Finally, Charge raised theGuatemalan and Venezuelan candidacies for the UNC (Ref C). Diallo listened politely but declined to say how Senegal mightvote. JACKSON