PRIME MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR REVIEW RELATIONS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001312

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN, INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR UNGA BF
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR REVIEW RELATIONS,
MULTILATERAL COOPERATION

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a frank discussion in a one-on-one
meeting with the Ambassador, Prime Minister Christie
expressed surprise at the Bahamian voting record in the U.N.
and limited multilateral cooperation with the U.S. at the UN.
The Prime Minister and Ambassador agreed that bilateral
cooperation was outstanding across the board. Christie
indicated he may take a more direct role in future foreign
policy decisions, and the FM subsequently told us Christie
has requested an analysis of Bahamian voting at the UN. END
SUMMARY.

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Promoting Closer Cooperation in the UN
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2. (C) On August 24, Ambassador Rood met with Prime Minister
Perry Christie on the occasion of Christie's birthday.
During the meeting, Ambassador Rood expressed appreciation
for the outstanding partnerships between The Bahamas and the
United States, praising the US-Bahamian bilateral
relationship. Ambassador Rood noted, however, his concern
that our shared values were not always reflected in common
approaches to international problems in the United Nations,
where the Department's most recent UN Voting Patterns report
noted that the Bahamas ranks 29th of 33 countries in the
Western Hemisphere on important votes to the U.S. Reminding
Christie of his government's past advocacy against apartheid,
the Ambassador encouraged Christie to use The Bahamas' UN
vote to stand up for its own values and democratic principles
elsewhere in the world. The Ambassador suggested that the
declining UN compatibility figures highlighted a need for
closer dialogue on these issues between The Bahamas and the
United States.


3. (C) In response to the Ambassador's concerns, Christie
distanced himself from Minister Mitchell's handling of
Bahamian policy, saying "foreign policy is driven by Fred
(Mitchell) and the MFA, without involvement of my office."
Christie, who expressed surprise that The Bahamas was less in
agreement with the U.S. than Barbados and Jamaica, conveyed
genuine disappointment with Mitchell's handling of these U.N.
issues. He said he would consider greater involvement in
foreign policy decisions and suggested that he may ask for
key international human rights votes to come before Cabinet
for consideration. Mitchell subsequently told the Ambassador
that Christie had requested an analysis of the Bahamas'
recent UN votes.

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OPBAT; FAA Issues
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4. (U) Ambassador provided the Prime Minister with continued
assurances of the U.S. commitment to the OPBAT program,
noting that there had been a spate of high level visits to
assess the operation. Officials had come away reinforced
with the importance of the operation, and appreciative of the
close cooperation we have with Bahamian law enforcement.
Christie reiterated the importance to The Bahamas of OPBAT,
and said he would draft a letter to President Bush or
Secretary Rice on the matter.

SIPDIS


5. (U) Ambassador Rood raised a pending proposal by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide flight
information services as part of The Bahamas request for a
Bahamas Flight Information Region (BFIR). Christie agreed to
personally review the FAA proposal regarding BFIR. The
Ambassador emphasized the importance to the U.S. of ensuring
smooth control over air traffic in the Bahamas/Miami air
corridor. NOTE: The GCOB received the proposal from the FAA
in March 2006. END NOTE.

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Addressing Misperceptions of the U.S.
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6. (C) Ambassador Rood relayed to the Prime Minister his
concern about the anti-U.S. viewpoints conveyed in the
"Bahamas Uncensored" web site formerly administered by Fred

Mitchell and which is seen by the Bahamian public and media
as still largely under his editorial control. Christie said
he doubted Mitchell was still directly involved in the site,
but acknowledged that the perception of his continued
involvement could contribute to perceptions of problems in
the bilateral relationship. NOTE: The web site is written
in Mitchell's rhetorical style with MFA inside information
and knowledge that no journalist would have access to. END
NOTE.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) Christie was responsive to concerns raised and
appeared genuinely concerned about the lack of Bahamian
support for human rights resolutions on Burma, Iran, Sudan
and others. Our public diplomacy on these issues has
generated a public dialogue in the media and a private
dialogue within the MFA on the wisdom of following the
CARICOM line of not voting on country-specific resolutions.
Mitchell remains wedded to the NAM/G-77 orientation on these
matters and sees his role as keeping the Bahamas out of any
and all international controversies. He has also indicated
that he would like to keep foreign policy matters out of the
public domain to avoid domestic controversies as elections
approach. Christie's consideration of a more direct role in
foreign policy matters is, however, an encouraging sign.
With elections approaching, both parties want to be seen as
having close ties to the U.S., which is the lifeline for most
Bahamians. END COMMENT.
ROOD