CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000170 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016 TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE EZ PL SUBJECT: CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS ON SECRETARY GENERAL; PLANS FOR PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION REF: A. STATE 20173 ¶B. STATE 22833 Classified By: Acting DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) A/DCM February 16 delivered reftel demarches on (a) Venezuela's UNSC ambitions, and (b) U.S. thoughts on the next UN Secretary General, to Jan Kara, Director of the Czech MFA's United Nations Department. ¶2. (C) Kara shared that the Czech Republic is similarly opposed to Venezuela's campaign to win a non-permanent seat at the UN, and has already pledged to support Guatemala's candidacy to represent Latin America in 2007-2008. ¶3. (C) Kara welcomed the Unites States' focus on selecting a competent manager as the next UN Secretary General, rather than adhering to the customary regional rotation. Kara shared that the Czechs and others in the region are disappointed with the focus on Asian candidates for the post, believing that the time has come for a Central or Eastern European to hold the job. Kara said both Thailand and South Korea had asked for Czech support for their candidates, but the Czechs had replied they could not commit at this stage, as they waited to see if a Central or Eastern European candidate would become viable. Kara noted that the problem was that Russia had broken ranks with other CEE states on the issue and supported an Asian candidate, presumably as a means to ensure that no candidate from a former Soviet state or ally won the job. Czech leaders, including PM Paroubek, have already spoken out in favor of former Polish President Kwasniewski's bid, but Kara indicated there was not a formal government position as of yet. ¶4. (SBU) A/DCM asked for an update on the Czech Republic's own candidacy for a non-permanent Security Council seat. Kara was optimistic, saying that with a year and a half to go until the election, the Czechs had already secured the backing of between 50 and 60 countries. He hoped the expected departure of FM Svoboda after the June elections would not result in a weakening of the Czech campaign for a Security Council seat. The Czechs' opponents are Croatia and Georgia. Kara was less optimistic about Czech chances for election to the UNCHR, noting Polish candidacy and recent Czech membership in the Commission. ¶5. (SBU) Kara also briefed us on discussions within the EU on the new UN Peacebuilding Commission. He indicated that the Czech Republic and Poland are the only two members of the "ECOSOC Group" to express an interest in a seat, and therefore Kara expected that they would end up splitting a two-year term, with the Poles going first. CABANISS