DEMARCHE DELIVERED: DEFEATING VENEZUELA FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000408 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS IO/UNP BHARRIS WHA/PPC RYONEOKA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016 TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE NP SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: DEFEATING VENEZUELA FOR NON-PERMANENT SEAT ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL REF: STATE 20173 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) On February 10 the Ambassador urged Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey to consider Guatemala's candidacy for the UN Security Council, keeping in mind the negative consequences of Venezuela's membership in the Security Council, per reftel. Pandey was curious about what type of governments Venezuela and Guatemala had and the Ambassador provided further background. Noting that he had not yet received any communications from Guatemala in this regard, Pandey suggested it would be good for the government of Guatemala to send him a letter. The Ambassador agreed that a letter was an appropriate next step and said that he would convey the suggestion back to Washington. Pandey seemed amenable to the request to vote for Guatemala. MORIARTY