GUATEMALAN AMBASSADOR ON DISCUSSION WITH FM FOXLEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 001105 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC PGOV CI GA SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN AMBASSADOR ON DISCUSSION WITH FM FOXLEY REGARDING VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY Classified By: Ambassador Craig A. Kelly. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) Guatemalan Ambassador Antonio Castellanos requested a meeting with the Ambassador on May 22 to discuss Guatemala's UNSC candidacy. Castellanos said he had just spoken with Gert Rosenthal, Special Advisor to Guatemalan Foreign Minister Briz, who had just spoken with Chilean Foreign Minister Foxley. Rosenthal, who reportedly knows Foxley well, said that Foxley had told him the following: --The U.S. is exerting overly aggressive pressure in the region regarding the UNSC seat. --Chile will not/not work for a GRULAC consensus, which Foxley noted had been rare in past votes. --Instead, Chile will remain quiet and "go it alone." --Chile might be interested in a third candidate if one emerges, but it will not work to find one (to Guatemala's relief, according to Castellanos). ¶2. (C) Castellanos, who was drawing from a memorandum of conversation drafted by Rosenthal, said that following his discussion with Foxley, Rosenthal reportedly concluded that Chile was not ready to support Guatemala, but was acutely aware of the considerable downsides involved if Venezuela were to win. Rosenthal reportedly added that the U.S. should ease up for the time being. The Ambassador asked Castellanos if he had heard rumors that Venezuela may be considering withdrawing its candidacy. Castellanos replied "no," noting the question apparently did not come up during the Foxley-Rosenthal conversation. Castellanos vowed that Guatemala would not drop out of the race. Castellanos added that he had just learned that Poland would support Guatemala. ¶3. (C) On a related issue, Castellanos said that outgoing Chilean Foreign Ministry Director for Multilateral Affairs Pedro Oyarce (Chile's new PermRep to the OAS) had told him that Chile had voted for Guatemala for the UN Human Rights Council. Guatemala's mission to the UN had heard a similar report, according to Castellanos. Oyarce reportedly said Chile's vote signaled a new look by Chile at Guatemala's role in the region. KELLY