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