GOJ LETTER TO SEC STATE RICE RE UNSC SEAT

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001370 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CAR FOR RCOLLINS, KMCISAAC WHA/PPC FOR RYONEOKA IO/UNP FOR BHARRIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PBTS UNSC CARICOM JM SUBJECT: GOJ LETTER TO SEC STATE RICE RE UNSC SEAT ¶1. On July 11, Embassy received a letter dated July 10, 2006 from ¶G. Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Government of Jamaica (GOJ),to Dr. Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States of America. ¶2. Text of GOJ Letter: Begin Text: Dear Dr. Rice, Thank you for your letter of friendship towards the Jamaican people and the hand of friendship you have extended to me personally. I warmly embrace the gesture and apologize for the delayed response. I take this opportunity to again invite you to visit Jamaica in your official capacity, of (sic) for some much needed rest and relaxation. Your choice of vacation locations in Jamaica are many and I will happy to assist in identifying the appropriate "cool spot". Turning to matters of state, I should like to indicate to you that my attendance at the just concluded CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in St. Kitts and Nevis afforded me the opportunity to participate directly in discussions concerning, inter alia, the non-permanent seat for Latin America and the Caribbean on the Security Council. I can assure you that the Heads, in their long and arduous discussions, took the concerns of your Government fully into consideration before reaching their consensus position against supporting Guatemala. Important to that decision was the longstanding border dispute between Guatemala and Belize, a Member State of CARICOM. The situation is considered to be a volatile one with the increased possibility for escalation, involving possible armed conflict, considering the likelihood of a significant find of hydrocarbon resources by entities acting on Belize's behalf in disputed areas. The heightened possibility for armed conflict is considered to be incompatible with the status being sought by Guatemala on the Security Council, and raises the likelihood of a real or apparent conflict of interest. A second but important consideration was Guatemala's role in the Banana case against the European Union regime in favour of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) banana producers in the WTO which resulted in the loss of preferential market for Caribbean bananas, and the resultant increased pressures and instability in the economies of supplier states in the Caribbean, including Jamaica. The Heads viewed the Banana case as merely symptomatic of a more fundamental difference existing in the WTO and FTAA between Caribbean and Central American countries regarding the appropriate treatment to be given to Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), including within the DOHA Development Round negotiations. Finally, but even more important, is the continuing concern by CARICOM Heads regarding the lack of a democratic tradition in Guatemala and the historic role played by its military in the running of that country, as well as the cases of human rights abuses pulicised throughout the Caribbean and in Jamaica. Let me hasten to add, however, that the consensus position on Guatemala does not translate into a ringing endorsement of Venezuela, particularly its foreign policy regarding Iran and North Korea. Jamaica and CARICOM are steadfast in our opposition to nuclear proliferation and strong in their position regarding the need for nuclear disarmament. Jamaica's stance on this issue was articulated at the Malaysia Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in May this year. We will have an opportunity to communicate this and other concerns that we have directly to President Chavez when he visits Jamaica later this month to conclude certain commercial arrangements. Additionally, CARICOM Heads of Government unanimously endorsed: a) the planned Conference on the Caribbean to be held in Washington, D.C., June 2007; b) the start of exploratory talks between the US and CARICOM concerning a possible FTA; and c) the resumption of US/CARICOM discussions within the framework of the Trade and Investment Council (TIC). I am writing to you hours before my departure to Brazil with my Prime Minister to conduct bilateral discussions including the role for the Brazilian Private Sector in the transformation of the Jamaican Sugar Industry, as well as to participate in a Conference on the African Diaspora. I will be having discussions with our mutual friend and counterpart, Celso Amorim on a range of foreign and trade policy issues, including Haiti. Madame Secretary, please be assured of Jamaica's continuing friendship with the United States of America and I look forward to working with you in further enhancing this already solid relationship. Best Wishes. Yours Sincerely, ¶G. Anthony Hylton Minister End Text. JOHNSON