PREVAL SAYS CARICOM WILL SUPPORT VENEZUELA FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001387

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC VZ GT HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL SAYS CARICOM WILL SUPPORT VENEZUELA FOR
UNSC SEAT


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


1. (C) Summary: A/S Shannon used the opportunity of a July
25 meeting with Haitian President Preval to urge Haiti to
support Guatemala for the GRULAC UNSC seat. President Preval
asserted that CARICOM had adopted a common position in
support of Venezuela's bid for a UNSC seat. Shannon noted
that CARICOM had not publicly endorsed a candidate, but had
established criteria to guide CARICOM voting. 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 community, 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 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
through 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 and the Andes, 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. He also realizes

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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 of
the 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.


8. (U) A/S Shannon cleared on this message.
SANDERSON