BAHAMAS, CARICOM LIKELY TO BACK VENEZUELA FOR UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001044 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR BCOLLINS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016 TAGS: PREL BF SUBJECT: BAHAMAS, CARICOM LIKELY TO BACK VENEZUELA FOR UNSC Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent D. Hardt for reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that The Bahamas will follow CARICOM's lead on the vote for the regional representative to the UNSC. Reports from those present at CARICOM'S Heads of Government meetings in St. Kitts indicate that CARICOM will vote as a block for Venezuela. It appears that Venezuela's personal lobbying efforts successfully convinced CARICOM, and The Bahamas, to support its bid during a closed-session meeting. The basis for the decision is reportedly a combination of Guatemala's human rights record, Guatemala's claims on Belize and Venezuela's pledge to support CARICOM's international trade agenda. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On June 29, Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell in advance of the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting to discuss regional candidates for the United Nations Security Council. During the meeting, Minister Mitchell said that The Bahamas was undecided, but would follow CARICOM's lead. However, Mitchell admitted that Belize's strong opposition to Guatemala appeared to be a critical factor for The Bahamas and CARICOM. He said, "we can still be convinced, but we need to resolve Belize's concerns if we are to get anywhere." Mitchell, who was clearly leaning towards support of Venezuela, did not respond to the Ambassador's point that Venezuela also had territorial claims on a CARICOM member nation, but promised to provide an update upon his return from the CARICOM meetings. ¶3. (C) On July 7, while discussing a planned trip to The Bahamas, the Ambassador spoke with non-resident Spanish Ambassador to The Bahamas Jesus Silva. Silva reported that CARICOM had decided to vote as a block in favor of Venezuela. Silva attended the Heads of Government Meeting, where he confirmed the decision with Venezuelan representative Roy Chaderton-Matos and Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Douglas Saunders. Silva said that Chaderton-Matos lobbied for Venezuela in a closed-session meeting with the heads of government. He reported four reasons for the decision in favor of Venezuela: Guatemala's human rights record; Guatemala's border dispute with Belize; Venezuela's agreement to support CARICOM trade interests at the Council, and; Guatemala's disagreement with CARICOM on WTO trade issues. NOTE: Silva's statements are consistent with media reports. In those reports, Dominica Prime Minister Skerritt said CARICOM would vote as a bloc for Venezuela, praised Venezuelan trade policies and expressed appreciation for Venezuela's willingness to directly lobby CARICOM. END NOTE. ¶4. (C) Following Silva's statement, Poloff contacted Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Marilyn Zonicle. Zoncile said The Bahamas would follow CARICOM'S lead but would not confirm an agreement to vote as a block in favor of Venezuela. Instead, she referred Poloff to CARICOM's Final Communique, which provides: "In deliberating on the Latin America and Caribbean Region's candidacy for the United Nations Security Council, Heads of Government indicated that any country wishing to be the voice of the Community in this critical organ would need to speak to the fundamental values, principles, concerns and best interests of the Community. In particular, the Community would wish to be assured that the elected member would fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its constituent Member States in the discharge of its duties." ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The CARICOM statement may leave some room for individual countries to support Guatemala, but the comments of individual CARICOM countries -- those less cautious about US relations than The Bahamas - indicate a stronger CARICOM position that does not augur well for Guatemala. The Bahamas appears likely to follow CARICOM's lead and support Venezuela for the UNSC. END COMMENT. ROOD