SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS U.S. ITU CANDIDATES

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001373 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO EB/CIP/MA - FWILLIAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ECPS ITU ES SUBJECT: SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS U.S. ITU CANDIDATES REF: STATE 51211 STATE 46962 SANSALVADOR 00661 ¶1. Post received a letter (text paragraph 2) from the Salvadoran Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated May 16, 2006 informing us they will support the U.S. candidates for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council and the Radio Communications Regulation Board for the period 2006- 2010 in the elections that will take place in Antalya, Turkey at the next Plenipotentiary Conference from November 6 to November 24, 2006. The letter also reiterates the Salvadoran request for U.S. support for their candidate to the ITU council. ¶2. Post will fax the original Spanish-language letter to WHA/CEN and EB/CIP/MA. An informal translation of the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows. Begin text: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs salutes the Embassy of the United States of America and would like to refer to the request made to the Government of El Salvador to support the U.S. candidacy for a seat on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council and the Radio Communications Regulation Board for the period 2006-2010, in the elections that will take place during the next Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey from November 6 to November 24, 2006. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the U.S. Embassy that the Government of El Salvador, based on the cordial relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation that have traditionally existed between our two countries and governments, has decided to support both candidacies referenced; the Salvadoran delegation that will attend the conference will be informed of the decision. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the U.S. Embassy that El Salvador has also presented its candidacy to the International Telecommunications Union Council and kindly requests the valuable support of the Government of the United States of America for the nomination. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes the opportunity to reiterate to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurance of its highest and most distinguished consideration. End text. Barclay