DEMARCHE DELIVERED: VENEZUELA UNSC RACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000803 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2016 TAGS: UNSC GT VE SL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: VENEZUELA UNSC RACE REF: SECSTATE 162359 (B) FREETOWN 735 (C) FREETOWN 702 (D) FREETOWN 534 Classified By: Ambassador Thomas H. Hull, reasons 1.5 b/d ¶1. (C) On September 28, during a meeting with Sierra Leone President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, Ambassador raised U.S. concerns about Venezuela's UNSC candidacy and the behavior of President Chavez, as requested reftel. Both the Foreign Minister and the Vice President are currently out of the country. ¶2. (C) Ambassador noted strong U.S. dissatisfaction with the behavior of President Chavez of Venezuela who showed contempt, not only for the U.S. and President Bush, but for the United Nations. Ambassador encouraged President Kabbah to ensure that Sierra Leone not support Venezuela's UNSC candidacy. President Kabbah responded that he would take U.S. views "into consideration." Kabbah commented that he had been told that President Chavez was sending a special envoy to Sierra Leone, and wondered what it was supposed to be about. So far, no one has come. ¶3. (C) Comment: Vice President Berewa is currently heading the Sierra Leone delegation to UNGA and will return to Freetown on October 2. Department or USUN may find it useful to engage with the Sierra Leone delegation on this issue directly, as the final decision on their vote is more likely to be made in New York than in Freetown. HULL