UNSC: LESOTHO REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA

S E C R E T MASERU 000524 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC GE VT LT SUBJECT: UNSC: LESOTHO REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA REF: a) STATE 173465; b) MASERU 513 AND PREVIOUS; c) MOZENA-MURPHY TELCON 10/17/06 CLASSIFIED BY: W. Patrick Murphy, Charge d'affaires, a.i., EXEC, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (S) MFA Europe and Americas Division Director Pitso Makosholo (the most senior MFA official available) told Charge on October 17 that Lesotho's top-level decision to support Guatemala's UNSC candidacy was firm (ref B). He said that the GOL had issued instructions to its PermRep in New York to stand with Guatemala through all rounds of balloting. He committed, late on October 17, to recontact the PermRep to reiterate those instructions. ¶2. (S) Early on October 18, MFA acting Principle Secretary Thabang Lekhela (Deputy Minister equivalent) contacted Charge with assurances that the GOL's instructions to its PermRep were clear and unambiguous: Lesotho supports Guatemala. Director Makosholo reiterated the same message to Pol/Econ officer during delivery of an unrelated demarche on October 18. MURPHY