NO CARICOM CONSENSUS YET ON UNSC SEAT

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000651 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS WHA/CAR WHA/PPC IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PBTS UNSC CARICOM GY XL SUBJECT: NO CARICOM CONSENSUS YET ON UNSC SEAT REF: (A)GEORGETOWN 607, (B)GEORGETOWN 519, (C)GEORGETOWN 191 ¶1. (U) Under the headline "Venezuela or Guatemala for UN seat? Caricom still undecided", the independent Stabroek News reported July 6 that the CARICOM Heads of Government have refrained from reaching consensus on a regional block vote for the UNSC seat. Guyana FonMin Insanally's comments indicate that CARICOM member states might be free to pursue their own course on the UNSC vote -- allowing Guyana and others to withhold support for Venezuela's bid. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT. This is a positive development insofar as any consensus reached by CARICOM would likely favor Venezuela. It also breaks from conventional CARICOM practice, which emphasizes consensus whenever possible. Apparently the lure of PetroCaribe has not completely swept away real concerns over Venezuela's aggressive boundary claims in the region. END COMMENT. ¶3. (U) Newspaper article follows. BEGIN TEXT: Caricom has no definitive position on whether to support Venezuela or Guatemala for the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and Guyana "has to think well given its own situation" with its western neighbour, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally says. In a brief telephone interview from St Kitts last evening, Insanally, who is representing President Bharrat Jagdeo at the 27th Regular Conference of the Caricom Heads of Government told Stabroek News that the issue of support for the candidacy was discussed on the island of Nevis where the Heads of Government met in caucus yesterday to discuss a number of issues. In addition, Insanally said that he would have to consult further with Jagdeo on the issue of the candidacy before Guyana could make a decision. He expects that the issue would be discussed further today. It is expected that Guyana's support or lack of support for Venezuela would hinge on Venezuela claim to the Essequibo region while Belize, which has a border dispute with Guatemala, would be weighing its options. The issue of Venezuela's maritime boundary in Caribbean waters is another factor that is reportedly causing some concerns. END TEXT. BULLEN