UKRAINE: DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELA'S UN SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIEV 001561 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC VE GT UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELA'S UN SECURITY COUNCIL BID REF: A. A) STATE 57503 ¶B. B) KIEV 559 ¶C. C) STATE 40856 Classified By: Political Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons 1.4(a,b,d ). ¶1. (C) We discussed Venezuela's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council with Andriy Beshta from the MFA United Nations directorate April 18, reiterating ref C demarche points and drawing on information from ref A. Beshta said that his office had used our previous demarche to formulate a proposal for Ukraine's position on the Group of Latin American Countries (GRULAC) seat in the UN, pending review by Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk. Beshta said that between travel and ongoing efforts to form a majority coalition in the Rada (parliament) following recent elections, Tarasyuk had not had a chance to look at the proposal. Beshta said he thought a decision would come down soon, and said he would contact us when he had an answer. ¶2. (C) Privately, Beshta said he thought Ukraine would vote against the "disruptive candidate," (i.e., Venezuela). Beshta noted that when he had worked at Ukraine's mission to the UN, he had enjoyed a good working relationship with colleagues from the Guatemalan mission. ¶3. (U) Visit Embassy Kiev's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Herbst