Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PHNOMPENH1799
2006-10-03 01:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Phnom Penh
Cable title:
CAMBODIA: PM SUPPORTS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHPF #1799 2760158 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 030158Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7409 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 2235 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE 0007 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA IMMEDIATE 0010 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 3088 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2175 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0037
C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 001799
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: PM SUPPORTS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT
Classified By: Acting DCM Margaret McKean; Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 001799
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: PM SUPPORTS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT
Classified By: Acting DCM Margaret McKean; Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. The Cambodia government recently informed
the Embassy that it would support Guatemala in the October 16
election for the GRULAC rotational seat on the UNSC. The
Japanese Ambassador raised the issue with PM Hun Sen during
an unrelated September 29 meeting. The RGC had hoped for a
vote trade with Guatemala and the United States, but has
opted to support Guatemala with or without any vote trade.
End Summary.
Cambodia to Support Guatemala
--------------
2. (C) On September 27, the Ambassador, DCM, and Pol/Econ
Chief met with PM advisor Om Yentieng to discuss Cambodia's
position on the upcoming UNSC vote scheduled for October 16.
The Ambassador stressed the importance of the issue to the
USG and noted Venezuela's disruptive behavior in
international gatherings, including the recent UNGA meetings.
The USG was aware that Cambodia had been leaning towards
Venezuela last year, but the Ambassador hoped that
discussions between the RGC and the Embassy over the past
months had convinced Cambodia to support Guatemala. Om
Yentieng took careful notes and promised to provide a
response to the Ambassador before the latter's departure for
the United States on October 1.
3. (C) In the meantime, we also approached the Japanese
Ambassador, who had an unrelated meeting with the PM on
Friday, September 29, and asked that he also raise the issue
with Hun Sen. Ambassador Takahashi told us afterwards that
the PM had indicated a willingness to support Guatemala, but
was hoping for a vote trade -- as Venezuela had offered. On
September 30, Om Yentieng contacted the Ambassador to clarify
that the PM had signaled his intention to support Guatemala,
irrespective of any quid pro quo. The RGC, he noted, had
delayed announcing for either country in the hopes of gaining
vote trade agreements from both Guatemala and the United
States. (Note: We have told the Cambodian government on
several occasions that we don't engage in vote trades. End
Note.) The PM decided, however, that the RGC would support
Guatemala even if there is no vote trade, and wanted to pass
that message to the Ambassador before his departure for the
United States.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) The RGC's decision to support Guatemala is welcome
news, and we have informally expressed our gratitude to the
government for their support. The PM's responsiveness to the
Ambassador's request is another indication of Hun Sen's
willingness to accept USG counsel -- even when others (e.g.,
his Foreign Ministry) in his government were inclined to
support Venezuela. If appropriate, we suggest that the US
Mission in New York brief their Guatemalan counterparts and
alert them to Cambodia's desire for a vote trade. We believe
that if such a vote trade could be arranged, it would be
useful insurance in maintaining RGC support through multiple
voting rounds. End Comment.
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: PM SUPPORTS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT
Classified By: Acting DCM Margaret McKean; Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. The Cambodia government recently informed
the Embassy that it would support Guatemala in the October 16
election for the GRULAC rotational seat on the UNSC. The
Japanese Ambassador raised the issue with PM Hun Sen during
an unrelated September 29 meeting. The RGC had hoped for a
vote trade with Guatemala and the United States, but has
opted to support Guatemala with or without any vote trade.
End Summary.
Cambodia to Support Guatemala
--------------
2. (C) On September 27, the Ambassador, DCM, and Pol/Econ
Chief met with PM advisor Om Yentieng to discuss Cambodia's
position on the upcoming UNSC vote scheduled for October 16.
The Ambassador stressed the importance of the issue to the
USG and noted Venezuela's disruptive behavior in
international gatherings, including the recent UNGA meetings.
The USG was aware that Cambodia had been leaning towards
Venezuela last year, but the Ambassador hoped that
discussions between the RGC and the Embassy over the past
months had convinced Cambodia to support Guatemala. Om
Yentieng took careful notes and promised to provide a
response to the Ambassador before the latter's departure for
the United States on October 1.
3. (C) In the meantime, we also approached the Japanese
Ambassador, who had an unrelated meeting with the PM on
Friday, September 29, and asked that he also raise the issue
with Hun Sen. Ambassador Takahashi told us afterwards that
the PM had indicated a willingness to support Guatemala, but
was hoping for a vote trade -- as Venezuela had offered. On
September 30, Om Yentieng contacted the Ambassador to clarify
that the PM had signaled his intention to support Guatemala,
irrespective of any quid pro quo. The RGC, he noted, had
delayed announcing for either country in the hopes of gaining
vote trade agreements from both Guatemala and the United
States. (Note: We have told the Cambodian government on
several occasions that we don't engage in vote trades. End
Note.) The PM decided, however, that the RGC would support
Guatemala even if there is no vote trade, and wanted to pass
that message to the Ambassador before his departure for the
United States.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) The RGC's decision to support Guatemala is welcome
news, and we have informally expressed our gratitude to the
government for their support. The PM's responsiveness to the
Ambassador's request is another indication of Hun Sen's
willingness to accept USG counsel -- even when others (e.g.,
his Foreign Ministry) in his government were inclined to
support Venezuela. If appropriate, we suggest that the US
Mission in New York brief their Guatemalan counterparts and
alert them to Cambodia's desire for a vote trade. We believe
that if such a vote trade could be arranged, it would be
useful insurance in maintaining RGC support through multiple
voting rounds. End Comment.
CAMPBELL