Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL2675
2006-08-08 08:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

UNSYG CAMPAIGN: FM BAN'S UPDATE

Tags:  PREL UN KS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #2675 2200829
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 080829Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9550
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 6187
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0526
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0720
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0560
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0284
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002675 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PREL UN KS
SUBJECT: UNSYG CAMPAIGN: FM BAN'S UPDATE

REF: SEOUL 2442 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002675

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PREL UN KS
SUBJECT: UNSYG CAMPAIGN: FM BAN'S UPDATE

REF: SEOUL 2442 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on August 7, ROK
Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said that he was relieved to
have done well in the recent UNSC straw poll for the declared
candidates for UNSYG. At the same time, the results were
also burdensome, because they had created the expectation
that he could do even better next time around. Ban said that
he did not know who had voted for whom, and he was not
interested in finding out. Still, Ban assessed, the straw
poll seemed to confirm that Asia had credible and qualified
candidates.


2. (C) About to depart on the following day (August 8) for
Japan, Argentina, Peru, Australia and New Zealand, Ban was
clearly upbeat about his prospects. The Tokyo stop was
ostensibly to attend the funeral of former PM Hashimoto, but
Ban planned on bilaterals with FM Aso and Chief Cabinet
Secretary Abe (see septel),acknowledging that Tokyo's

SIPDIS
support would be crucial for his UNSYG campaign to succeed.
Ban said that he had received encouraging signals in Kuala
Lumpur during the recent ARF meetings. Many ASEAN foreign
ministers congratulated him on his strong showing in the
straw poll, including Thai Foreign Minister Kanthati, despite
his predecessor, Surakiart, being a declared candidate.


3. (C) Regarding other candidates, Ban said that he expected
Thai candidate Surakiart and Sri Lankan candidate Dhanapala
to remain in the race for the time being. In KL, ASEAN
foreign ministers were apparently of the view that they
should wait until the second straw poll and then consider
dropping Surakiart in favor of another ASEAN candidate.
Clearly the ASEANs were quite pessimistic regarding the Thai
candidate's chances.


4. (C) Ban said that he would continue with a low-profile
campaign. He stressed, as he has done before (see ref),that
USG support would be decisive.
VERSHBOW