BAHAMAS LEANING TOWARD SUPPORT OF UN MIGRATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001300 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, PRM/PIM MRAMGOOLIE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016 TAGS: PREL EAID PREF SMIG UNGA UNGA BF SUBJECT: BAHAMAS LEANING TOWARD SUPPORT OF UN MIGRATION FORUM REF: STATE 122513 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) a nd (d). ¶1. (U) The Bahamas provided no initial response following July delivery of reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Permanent Secretary Patricia Rodgers or following re-delivery of the demarche to MFA Undersecretary Marilyn Zonicle on August 17. ¶2. (C) On August 23, Poloff again spoke with Zonicle, who shared contents of the MFA's memorandum on the topic to its UN mission. Zonicle noted that consultations with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and IOM member states have led The Bahamas to conclude that IOM lacks the needed resources to function as effectively as the UN could on migration issues. Zonicle also noted that some IOM member nations are not satisfied with the IOM's work, and that The Bahamas supports the concerns of those nations and those not currently part of the IOM. Zonicle said that a closer affiliation between IOM and the UN, possibly through a formal ongoing UN forum on migration could improve the IOM's performance. Zonicle said that while The Bahamas is inclined to a UN forum for migration issues, the matter has not been finally determined. Poloff reiterated points from the demarche, questioning whether practical, constructive dialog should be expected on technical, operational migration issues in the UN. Poloff suggested that concerns with IOM should focus on strengthening the IOM and questioned whether a UN forum would do so. Zonicle thanked Poloff for the points raised, and said that they would be considered as The Bahamas reaches its decision. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: The Bahamas can be expected to follow the lead of CARICOM and the Non-Aligned Movement on this issue. Absent a CARICOM or NAM consensus to the contrary, Zonicle's frank discussion of the MFA's internal memorandum indicates The Bahamas' likely support for a permanent UN forum on migration. END COMMENT. ROOD