NAM SUMMIT: PHILIPPINES TO PUSH GUATEMALAN UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 003784 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNP AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016 TAGS: PREL UNGA PHUM CU RP SUBJECT: NAM SUMMIT: PHILIPPINES TO PUSH GUATEMALAN UN SECURITY COUNCIL BID REF: STATE 145242 Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Paul W. Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Charge discussed reftel points September 5 with Foreign Secretary Romulo. Romulo immediately volunteered to lobby for Guatemala and to coordinate with the Guatemalan delegation to build support for Guatemala's Security Council bid during the September 11-16 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit. "We want Guatemala to win, not just receive our vote," he said. Romulo agreed with the thrust of the U.S. points on terrorism, the Middle East, and Lebanon, and shared our concerns about democracy in Cuba. ¶2. (C) Acting Political Counselor separately conveyed the U.S. views in written form to Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Rey Carandang on September 7. Carandang, who will be part of the Philippine delegation to the Summit, confirmed that the Philippines would muster support for Guatemala's candidacy and work to avoid having the NAM take a position in support of Venezuela. He noted our points on the need for balanced language on the Middle East and to avoid one-sided condemnations of Israel. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm Jones