CARICOM QUESTIONS ON MINISTERIAL AGENDA AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 000203 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL XL SUBJECT: CARICOM QUESTIONS ON MINISTERIAL AGENDA AND LOGISTICS REF: A. GEORGETOWN 63 ¶B. GEORGETOWN 21 Action request for WHA: please see para 5. ¶1. (U) Ambassador met with CARICOM A/SYG for Community and Foreign Relations, Ambassador Colin Granderson, March 1 to briefly discuss upcoming ministerial with Secretary Rice. Granderson gave Ambassador a non-paper containing CARICOM's proposed agenda, questions pertaining to the working meals, and proposed outcome documents. Granderson gave no indication whether CARICOM would include Haiti at the meeting, which is scheduled to take place before the new GOH's inauguration. CARICOM's non- paper is transcribed in para 6. Agenda -------------- ¶2. (SBU) CARICOM has proposed an overarching "Democracy, Development, and Governance" lead agenda item that lumps together three of the U.S.' original items -- democratic governance, trade/economic competitiveness, energy conservation -- and adds in human resource development. According to Granderson, the CARICOM FonMins see these issues as inextricably linked. When Ambassador cautioned against having every FonMin speak on each agenda item, Granderson assured that they intend to designate a lead speaker for each sub-topic. The FonMins still need to caucus to decide who will take the lead on the various issues. Logistics for Working Meals -------------- ¶3. (U) Granderson emphasized that the FonMins want greater clarity on the format for the working meals. - How large should the delegation be at the working dinner and breakfast (i.e., just FonMins, or FonMins plus one)? - What will the agenda items be at these meals? Outcome Documents -------------- ¶4. (SBU) CARICOM is proposing a press release and an aide memoire to keep track of any commitments made during the meeting. In response to Ambassador's suggestion, Granderson indicated that CARICOM does not have the capacity for officials to work on these outcome documents in advance of the meeting. Action Request -------------- ¶5. (U) Action Request: Post requests that WHA provide feedback on CARICOM's non-paper. Ambassador told Granderson the U.S. would provide responses to the following by Monday, March 6: - Is the reconfigured agenda acceptable? - More detail on the structure for the working meals. - Are the proposed outcome documents acceptable? CARICOM Non-Paper -------------- ¶6. (U) BEGIN TEXT: NON-PAPER CARICOM FOREIGN MINISTERS-US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETING The Bahamas 21-22 March 2006 ¶1. CARICOM proposed the following Agenda: i) Democracy, Development and Governance (to include discussions on trade competitiveness, human resource development and energy). ii) Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation iii) Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation ¶2. In view of the proposal made by the United States for a Working Dinner and Working Breakfast, grateful for an indication of the views of the US side re: i) Allocation for each delegation at dinner and breakfast ii) Practicalities of the format envisaged: - agenda items over dinner - agenda items over breakfast - agenda items for half hour Ministerial Meeting ¶3. Proposed outcome documents: - Aide Memoire - Press Release 1 March 2006 END TEXT. BULLEN