Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTMORESBY376
2006-09-08 06:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Moresby
Cable title:  

BRACING PNG ON SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA

Tags:  PREL UNSC PP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 2030
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT MORESBY 000376 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/ANP AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/8/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC PP
SUBJECT: BRACING PNG ON SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA

REF: A) STATE 148130 B) STATE 145242 C) PORT MORESBY 370

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Port
Moresby, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)


C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT MORESBY 000376

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/ANP AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/8/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC PP
SUBJECT: BRACING PNG ON SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA

REF: A) STATE 148130 B) STATE 145242 C) PORT MORESBY 370

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Port
Moresby, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



1.(C) Summary: Chief Secretary Kalinoe took aboard our concerns
about Venezuela's candidacy for the UNSC. He allowed that Prime
Minister Somare had not consulted any of his staff before or
after making his statement in favor of Venezuela (ref C). He
will take up the matter with the PM. However, we believe that,
once committed, chances are slim Somare will change his mind.
End Summary.

2.(C) In a Sept 9 meeting, Ambassador braced Chief Secretary
Joshua Kalinoe about the Venezuelan candidacy and Prime Minister
Somare's announced support. Kalinoe allowed that PNG, having
benefited from extensive UN help during its own Bougainville
crisis, should be interested in an effective UN peace keeping
and mediating mechanism. He also noted that PNG wanted to be
seen as a responsible player on the international scene.

3.(C) Kalinoe explained that Somare had made the statement to
press at the conclusion of his meeting with an envoy from Hugo
Chavez. He had not consulted with his staff before and had
issued no directions afterward. He committed to discussing the
matter in detail with the PM.

4.(C) Ambassador also raised US concerns over the language in
the final NAM document (ref B). Again, PNG might be especially
interested in the terrorism language exempting wars of national
liberation, since that could easily be applied to situations
like PNG experienced in Bougainville. The staff which will
accompany Somare to Havana (Kalinoe will only be in the UNGA
meetings) took notes.

5.(C) Comment: Kalinoe will discuss the UNSC vote with Somare.
Ambassador, who will shortly depart post, called in a few
markers to ensure that. He seemed genuinely concerned with the
possible consequences of Venezuela on the UNSC. Kalinoe is also
Somare's trusted aide and political operative, having just been
reappointed for another four-year term. It is possible that
Somare merely made the comments off hand while seeing off the
Venezuelan envoy. However, while hopeful, we would want to
overstate the chances of the prickly PM changing his mind after
committing in public. We believe the current assessment of PNG
"leaning heavily" to Venezuela remains appropriate.

FITTS