SYG SELECTION: FIJI AGAIN RENOUNCES DEVA NOMINATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001793 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2011 TAGS: PREL UNSC UN FJ SUBJECT: SYG SELECTION: FIJI AGAIN RENOUNCES DEVA NOMINATION REF: USUN 1759 Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Permanent Representative, for reasons 1.4 b,d. ¶1. (C/NF) In response to a further request for clarification from Security Council President Vassilakis of Greece, the Fijian Permanent Representative has firmly renounced the earlier letter from his Foreign Minister that nominated Nirj Deva to the Council as a Secretary-General candidate (reftel). The PR's latest letter to the Council, dated September 8, states that the earlier letter "was not intended for the purpose of an official nomination by the Government of Fiji but was rather meant to support his candidature." (Comment: Whatever Fiji intends today, this latest statement is plainly false, as the FM's July 18 letter directly asks for the Council to "add the name... to your list of candidates." End Comment.) USUN has forwarded the letter to IO/UNP and understands that further efforts to secure clarification from the FM will not result in a re-instatement of Fiji's nomination. ¶2. (U) Council President Vassilakis wasted no time on September 11 to make statements to the press to confirm that the Council will not consider Deva as a candidate during its September 14 straw poll. The poll on Thursday will go forward with the five accepted candidates. BOLTON