Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTOFSPAIN841
2006-07-14 19:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Of Spain
Cable title:
T&T MFA ON CARICOM'S UNSC CANDIDATE CRITERIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSP #0841 1951951 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141951Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7102 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3598 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0097 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0049
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000841
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC XL TD
SUBJECT: T&T MFA ON CARICOM'S UNSC CANDIDATE CRITERIA
Classified By: Classified by: A/DCM, A. David Miller for reasons 1.4 (
b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000841
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC XL TD
SUBJECT: T&T MFA ON CARICOM'S UNSC CANDIDATE CRITERIA
Classified By: Classified by: A/DCM, A. David Miller for reasons 1.4 (
b/d)
1. (C) Political Officer met with Ms. Sandra Honore, head of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs CARICOM division on July 13.
She stated, in no uncertain terms, that the CARICOM
communique issued after the St. Kitts Heads of Government
Meeting in early July outlines a clear set of criteria that
any UN Security Council candidate will need to meet in order
to garner the CARICOM vote. She also stated, in similarly
clear terms, that there is no/no consensus on a candidate.
She further noted that many things could happen between
mid-July and the UN vote. Perhaps, she speculated, a third
candidate will come forward to cut through the current
logjam.
2. (C) Turning to a press report that indicated T&T Prime
Minister Manning had been given a mandate to discuss the
issue with Venezuela, Honore noted that there was no
discussion during the meetings to which she was privy about
such an action. She did note that going back to the CARICOM
Heads of Government meeting in 2005, CARICOM encouraged T&T
and Venezuela to settle their dispute over PetroCaribe and
other oil and gas related issues. This discussion resurfaced
during the most recent meeting, and may be the source of the
confusion. Honore made no indication if Manning has made any
efforts, or plans any outreach on this issue.
3. (C) COMMENT: Honore's statements confirm that T&T is as
yet undecided as to which candidate to support. It is
interesting to note that this is at least the second time T&T
has inquired into the possibility of a third candidate.
Ambassador-at-Large for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy
Jerry Narace (protect),a key member of the Government party,
has left no doubt that Prime Minister Manning will have final
say on which way T&T will vote. If Manning and Chavez can
resolve the tensions between their two countries, it is clear
that Venezuela will get the vote. Post will continue,
however, to lobby senior GOTT officials to impress upon them
the importance of this vote to Washington policymakers. END
COMMENT.
SWEENEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC XL TD
SUBJECT: T&T MFA ON CARICOM'S UNSC CANDIDATE CRITERIA
Classified By: Classified by: A/DCM, A. David Miller for reasons 1.4 (
b/d)
1. (C) Political Officer met with Ms. Sandra Honore, head of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs CARICOM division on July 13.
She stated, in no uncertain terms, that the CARICOM
communique issued after the St. Kitts Heads of Government
Meeting in early July outlines a clear set of criteria that
any UN Security Council candidate will need to meet in order
to garner the CARICOM vote. She also stated, in similarly
clear terms, that there is no/no consensus on a candidate.
She further noted that many things could happen between
mid-July and the UN vote. Perhaps, she speculated, a third
candidate will come forward to cut through the current
logjam.
2. (C) Turning to a press report that indicated T&T Prime
Minister Manning had been given a mandate to discuss the
issue with Venezuela, Honore noted that there was no
discussion during the meetings to which she was privy about
such an action. She did note that going back to the CARICOM
Heads of Government meeting in 2005, CARICOM encouraged T&T
and Venezuela to settle their dispute over PetroCaribe and
other oil and gas related issues. This discussion resurfaced
during the most recent meeting, and may be the source of the
confusion. Honore made no indication if Manning has made any
efforts, or plans any outreach on this issue.
3. (C) COMMENT: Honore's statements confirm that T&T is as
yet undecided as to which candidate to support. It is
interesting to note that this is at least the second time T&T
has inquired into the possibility of a third candidate.
Ambassador-at-Large for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy
Jerry Narace (protect),a key member of the Government party,
has left no doubt that Prime Minister Manning will have final
say on which way T&T will vote. If Manning and Chavez can
resolve the tensions between their two countries, it is clear
that Venezuela will get the vote. Post will continue,
however, to lobby senior GOTT officials to impress upon them
the importance of this vote to Washington policymakers. END
COMMENT.
SWEENEY