T&T FM GIFT POSITIVE ON UN REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000165 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2016 TAGS: PREL KUNR TD SUBJECT: T&T FM GIFT POSITIVE ON UN REFORM REF: A. A. STATE 4746 ¶B. B. STATE 4745 Classified By: DCM, Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Ambassador Austin met with Foreign Minister Knowlson Gift on February 1 to deliver the talking points on UN reform contained reftels. Poloff attended as notetaker, as did three representatives from the MFA's Multilateral Department. Out of the numerous points contained reftels, the discussion centered on the proposed Human Rights Council and Security Council Reform. ¶2. (C) On the Human Rights Council proposal, Gift noted that he participated in the Human Rights Roundtable in September. He agreed that the new Council should not be unwieldy, and that membership numbers should be capped to ensure smooth operations. He further commented that the U.S. position seemed like a refinement of the position adopted by the roundtable and the General Assembly. ¶3. (C) Gift inquired about the U.S. position on Security Council expansion, noting that all four aspirants for new, permanent membership had sat together in his office like quadruplets to lobby the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT). Gift was nonplussed by the suggestion that the U.S. so far only supports Japan's aspiration, and is decidedly neutral to all other proposals. Gift commented that expressed support for one of the four sends a "subliminal message" to the other three. He further noted that the campaign will heat up between now and this summer. ¶4. (C) Gift went on to explain his position on Security Council expansion, that the Council must be effective, and perhaps get away from being a "big boys' club." The GOTT does not support the creation of new categories of members on the Security Council, but supports open decision-making about new members. He further stated that no country should be excluded from consideration until that country's aspirations are known. Gift closed by gently pitching T&T's candidacy for a rotational seat in the next Security Council elections. AUSTIN