BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN UN SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001000

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/RA (HILL),IO/UNP (HARRIS),NEA/ARP, WHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2021
TAGS: PREL
SUBJECT: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN UN SECURITY
COUNCIL

REF: SECSTATE 95360

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo. Reason: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) In a June 20 call on Minister Responsible for Foreign
Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi, the Ambassador delivered reftel
points, urging Oman's support for Guatemala's candidacy to
the UN Security Council. Bin Alawi noted with a smile that
Venezuelan President Chavez was in Tripoli during the
Minister's recent visit to Libya, saying that characters like
him "make the world an amusing place." More seriously, the
Minister said he was well aware of the tensions that Chavez's
government has raised, both with the U.S. and more broadly
within Latin America. He sees the region as at the leading
edge of yet another cycle of populist movements that promise
to improve the lives of citizens yet never actually deliver.


2. (C) The Minister indicated that Oman would look favorably
upon Guatemala's candidacy. A Guatemalan envoy was due in
Muscat in the coming week, and the Minister had already
agreed to meet with him. After the Minister's political
advisor Mohammed al-Hassan chimed in that Guatemala had led a
failed bid for a non-permanent UNSC seat only three years
ago, Bin Alawi wondered why Latin AMERICA could not come up
with a stronger opponent to Venezuela. He also noted that
Oman would look for an Arab League or OIC consensus before
casting its vote. Should there be a consensus to back
Venezuela, the Minister said Oman might be forced to abstain,
though he assured that Oman would not vote in favor of
Venezuela. The Ambassador reminded Bin Alawi that the UNGA
vote, should it come to that point, would be by secret ballot.
GRAPPO