GUYANA FM LIKES GUATEMALA FOR UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000191

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IO/UNP - BHARRIS
WHA/PPC - RYONEOKA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2016
TAGS: PREL GT VE GY UNSC UN
SUBJECT: GUYANA FM LIKES GUATEMALA FOR UNSC

REF: STATE 27055

Classified By: Ambassador Roland W. Bullen
For reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Ambassador met with Foreign Minister (and UN PermRep)
Rudy Insanally February 27 to deliver demarche regarding the
candidates for the 2007-2008 Latin America non-permanent seat
on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).


2. (C) Insanally said that he has discussed the matter with
Guatemala's UN PermRep Gert Rosenthal. He commented that
Guatemala "would do well" if Rosenthal were Guatemala's front
man on the issue. Insanally then shared several points with
Ambassador:

- The CARICOM member states will endeavor at first to reach a
consensus decision on which country's candidacy to support.

- Guatemala has a certain advantage because it is a small
state and from Central America. CARICOM places great
importance on the rights of small states in multilateral fora
and tries to support Central American states.

- However, the border dispute between Guatemala and Belize (a
CARICOM member) will also be a factor. Insanally advised
Rosenthal that Guatemala ought to do or say something "to
tranquilize this issue".

- Insanally said he would discuss the UNSC candidates with
his CARICOM counterparts. He also suggested that the
proposed late March CARICOM ministerial conference with
Secretary Rice in the Bahamas would be an ideal opportunity

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to raise the issue.

- Insanally did not comment directly on Venezuela.
BULLEN