PREVAL SAYS CARICOM WILL SUPPORT VENEZUELA FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 001379

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016
TAGS: GT HA PREL
SUBJECT: PREVAL SAYS CARICOM WILL SUPPORT VENEZUELA FOR
UNSC SEAT


Classified By: Ambassador Janet Sanderson for reason 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: President Preval asserted to A/S Shannon
July 25 that CARICOM had adopted a common position in support
of Venezuela's bid for a UNSC seat. Preval judged that
Guyana had softened its opposition to Venezuela, clearing the
way for a CARICOM consensus. Shannon explained that
Guatemala, a small state that plays a constructive role in
the international communinity represents a more qualified
candidate than Venezuela which, has demonstrated it is a
disruptive force in international institutions. He urged
Preval to consider Haiti's position carefully and to support
Guatemala. Preval made no commitments, and lamented that
"this is a fight between big boys" that Haiti would prefer to
avoid. End summary.


2. (C) At the end of a wide-ranging meeting on other topics
July 25 (septel),WHA A/S Shannon asked President Preval for
Haiti's position on the open GRULAC seat on the Security
Council. Clearly uncomfortable, Preval abruptly changed the
topic for several minutes before finally asserting that
CARICOM had decided on a common position in support of
Venezuela.


3. (C) A/S Shannon recalled that CARICOM had not taken a
formal position on the UNSC race, but rather set criteria for
its decision. Preval insisted that indeed there is a
consensus, although he described it as one of "very reserved
support for Venezuela." He said that Belize continued to
object to Guatemala because of their border dispute, while
Guyana had now softened its opposition to Venezuela. Preval
said that Guatemala's position on banana exports also had
been an important factor in CARICOM's decision to back
Venezuela. Preval quipped that CARICOM's position "had
nothing to do with Petrocaribe," and laughed.


4. (C) Shannon pointed out that it is unfortunate that a
decision on UNSC representation that should be made within
the GRULAC will instead be made by the entire General
Assembly. The U.S. thought that Guatemala had been
well-positioned to win support. It is a small country in a
region in which such countries have had few opportunities to
serve on the UNSC. It has extensive experience with the UN
though its own peace process and collaboration on economic
development. Guatemala also hosts a peacekeeping training
center and has contributed to PKOs worldwide, recently losing
eight peacekeepers in Congo. Guatemala has a record of
commitment to the UN, to democracy, and to human rights. In
contrast, Venezuela offers none of this. Instead, it tries
to use international institutions to advance its own narrow
agenda.


5. (C) Preval joked awkwardly that Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez is the "best friend" of the United States because
he has frightened voters in democracies elsewhere in the
Americas to reject populist candidates. Shannon explained
that Guatemala had the support of the North and Central
American countries, while Venezuela had the South American
countries, with the Caribbean perhaps split. As a result,
the rest of the world would effectively choose this
hemisphere's representative on the Council. Shannon sketched
a scenario in which votes for the UNSC seat will split the
world into two broad camps: democracies in Europe, Asia, and
Africa backing Guatemala, while tyrannies in Asia, Africa,
and the Middle East support Venezuela. Shannon underscored
that the UNGA vote will be by secret ballot. He said that
CARICOM countries should vote independently and urged that
Haiti carefully consider its position and support
Guatemala.


6. (C) Preval made no commitment. He lamented that "this
is a fight between big boys" that Haiti would prefer to
avoid. His principal advisor, Bob Manuel, took careful notes
throughout the discussion, particularly as Shannon presented
the arguments in favor of a vote for Guatemala.


7. (C) Comment: Preval will try to avoid breaking what he
believes is a CARICOM consensus in favor of Venezuela, when
Haiti only returned to full member status in the organization
earlier in the month after a two-year gap. Nevertheless, he
also realizes that his most important donors have lined up in
support of Guatemala's candidacy. We will continue to
encourage Preval to weigh the importance of this vote for the
good order ofthe UNSC and the UN Mission deployed in Haiti.
Given his inherent caution, we expect that he will pursue
what he perceives the safest course--probably an abstention.
SANDERSON