SPAIN ON GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA UNSC ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002564 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR FOR PDAS VOLKER WHA FOR PDAS SHAPIRO EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE, CLEMENTS, AND CERVETTI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2016 TAGS: PREL UNGA VZ SP SUBJECT: SPAIN ON GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA UNSC ELECTION Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) In a brief meeting on the margins of a representational event on October 11, the Ambassador and MFA Secretary of State for Ibero America Trinidad Jimenez SIPDIS discussed the status of the Venezuelan and Guatemalan candidacies for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat. Jimenez reiterated to the Ambassador Spain's support for Guatemala's election and said that Spain was working on securing Chilean support for Guatemala as well. Jimenez ventured that if Chile could be swayed, it could affect the votes of Paraguay and Uruguay as well. She said that Peru had confirmed to Spain its support for Guatemala's candidacy. The Ambassador thanked Jimenez for her readout of Spanish efforts and encouraged Spain to continue pressing in Latin America and elsewhere in support of Guatemala. //COMMENT// ¶2. (C) Jimenez may be engaging in wishful thinking with respect to the chances of securing the votes of Uruguay and Paraguay for Guatemala, but at least the MFA understands the importance of this issue to the USG and has engaged in support of Guatemala. This is our first experience with Jimenez in her new role and we are pleased that she appears prepared to put Spanish influence to good use on this crucial vote. AGUIRRE