IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH U.S. ERODE CARICOM SUPPORT

UNCLAS NASSAU 000673 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC VE BF SUBJECT: IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH U.S. ERODE CARICOM SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY REF: A. STATE 57503 ¶B. STATE 60604 ¶1. DCM discussed Venezuela's candidacy for the UN Security Council with Marilyn Zonicle, MFA Acting Permanent Secretary, on April 19, conveying reftel points on Venezuela's unsuitability for a UNSC seat. Zonicle reported that the Caribbean Community's foreign minister group, COFCOR, had not made a decision on the UNSC candidacies but would be discussing the issue at a foreign minister meeting in Bridgetown next week. She believed that the member states would follow a CARICOM line once a consensus was reached. ¶2. DCM asked what impact Venezuela's PetroCaribe program would have on the voting, given the importance of the program to Jamaica and some Eastern Caribbean states. DCM noted that Japan had previously been successful in using economic leverage to gain friendly positions from CARICOM countries on whaling issues. Zonicle acknowledged that energy was an important economic issue for many CARICOM members, but argued that the scope of the foreign ministers' decision-making would be broader than energy or economic interests. She stated that CARICOM foreign ministers were "more sophisticated now" and would not want to jeopardize the progress made during the Secretary's visit to Nassau in March. CARICOM was impressed by the Secretary's commitment to relations with the region and grateful that she was able to facilitate a meeting with USTR Portman so soon after the Nassau Ministerial. Zonicle said COFCOR sees the Secretary as an engaged and credible partner for the region whose opinion on Venezuela and other matters they will be hesitant to disregard. ROOD