Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE1766
2006-08-11 14:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/UNSC/VENEZUELA/GUATEMALA: DUTCH
how-toVZCZCXRO8186 PP RUEHAO DE RUEHTC #1766 2231431 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111431Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6527 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 8972 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0625 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0493 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1572 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 5006 RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 0108 RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0092 RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0240 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0359 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4142
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001766
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/FO (CSHAPIRO),EUR/PGI (JELDRIDGE),IO/UNP
(BHARRIS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UNSC/VENEZUELA/GUATEMALA: DUTCH
ANTICIPATE VENEZUELAN WIN
REF: A. A) STATE 111590
B. B) THE HAGUE 1681
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROLAND ARNALL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001766
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/FO (CSHAPIRO),EUR/PGI (JELDRIDGE),IO/UNP
(BHARRIS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UNSC/VENEZUELA/GUATEMALA: DUTCH
ANTICIPATE VENEZUELAN WIN
REF: A. A) STATE 111590
B. B) THE HAGUE 1681
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROLAND ARNALL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch still have not decided whether to
vote for Guatemala or Venezuela for the open GRULAC seat on
the UN Security Council. According to Dutch Foreign Minister
Bot, however, momentum is building for Venezuela's candidacy,
and Guatemala may be planning to withdraw. Post believes a
high-level call to Bot would be helpful in clarifying the
situation. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a meeting with Foreign Minister Bot on August
10 (other subjects reported septel),Ambassador Arnall urged
the Dutch to support Guatemala's Security Council bid over
that of Venezuela. The Ambassador noted that recent Security
Council debates regarding Lebanon and Iran made clear the
importance of having responsible, serious actors on the
Council. In this context, Guatemala was clearly the better
choice. Recalling earlier working level discussions (ref b),
the Ambassador noted U.S. concerns that the Dutch might be
reconsidering its earlier support for Guatemala.
3. (C) In response, Bot argued that the Dutch had not yet
made a decision. He acknowledged that he had been pressed
during his recent visit to Caracas to support the Venezuelan
candidacy, but had refrained from committing one way or the
other. Bot noted, however, that the Venezuelan candidacy
appeared to be gaining momentum -- including in Latin America
-- while Guatemala's was stalled. Bot added that he had
recently heard Guatemala might withdraw from the race in the
face of growing support for Venezuela which, if true, would
make the issue moot. In any case, Bot indicated he would
wait to see how the situation developed before making a final
decision.
Comment: High-level call from Washington needed
-------------- --
4. (C) Post has no knowledge of Guatemala's supposed plans to
withdraw, and we understand neither does the Department. To
the contrary, Guatemalan VP Stein has been in Washington this
week to finalize strategy prior to the UNGA.
5. (C) Comment (continued): The Dutch carry weight within the
EU on Latin American issues, and a Dutch decision to vote for
Venezuela could negatively influence the decisions of other
EU members. In light of this, post believes a call Secretary
Rice or Undersecretary Burns to Bot would be helpful in
clarifying the importance of the vote and correcting any
misperceptions about the current state of play.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/FO (CSHAPIRO),EUR/PGI (JELDRIDGE),IO/UNP
(BHARRIS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016
TAGS: PREL UN UNSC GT VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/UNSC/VENEZUELA/GUATEMALA: DUTCH
ANTICIPATE VENEZUELAN WIN
REF: A. A) STATE 111590
B. B) THE HAGUE 1681
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROLAND ARNALL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch still have not decided whether to
vote for Guatemala or Venezuela for the open GRULAC seat on
the UN Security Council. According to Dutch Foreign Minister
Bot, however, momentum is building for Venezuela's candidacy,
and Guatemala may be planning to withdraw. Post believes a
high-level call to Bot would be helpful in clarifying the
situation. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) During a meeting with Foreign Minister Bot on August
10 (other subjects reported septel),Ambassador Arnall urged
the Dutch to support Guatemala's Security Council bid over
that of Venezuela. The Ambassador noted that recent Security
Council debates regarding Lebanon and Iran made clear the
importance of having responsible, serious actors on the
Council. In this context, Guatemala was clearly the better
choice. Recalling earlier working level discussions (ref b),
the Ambassador noted U.S. concerns that the Dutch might be
reconsidering its earlier support for Guatemala.
3. (C) In response, Bot argued that the Dutch had not yet
made a decision. He acknowledged that he had been pressed
during his recent visit to Caracas to support the Venezuelan
candidacy, but had refrained from committing one way or the
other. Bot noted, however, that the Venezuelan candidacy
appeared to be gaining momentum -- including in Latin America
-- while Guatemala's was stalled. Bot added that he had
recently heard Guatemala might withdraw from the race in the
face of growing support for Venezuela which, if true, would
make the issue moot. In any case, Bot indicated he would
wait to see how the situation developed before making a final
decision.
Comment: High-level call from Washington needed
-------------- --
4. (C) Post has no knowledge of Guatemala's supposed plans to
withdraw, and we understand neither does the Department. To
the contrary, Guatemalan VP Stein has been in Washington this
week to finalize strategy prior to the UNGA.
5. (C) Comment (continued): The Dutch carry weight within the
EU on Latin American issues, and a Dutch decision to vote for
Venezuela could negatively influence the decisions of other
EU members. In light of this, post believes a call Secretary
Rice or Undersecretary Burns to Bot would be helpful in
clarifying the importance of the vote and correcting any
misperceptions about the current state of play.
ARNALL