Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06USUNNEWYORK1838 | 2006-09-19 19:15:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | USUN New York |
1. (C) Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga told Ambassador Bolton on September 18 that she aimed to make a statement on behalf of Eastern Europe and all women "simply by the fact of my candidacy" for UN Secretary-General. She candidly noted that it was a difficult decision to enter the race, impossible to judge the prospects for success, and there remained a distinct possibility that Russia and China could "nip it in the bud". She hoped her candidacy would broaden the field of possibilities and would lure more new names into the field. (Following her meeting with Ambassador Bolton, Vike-Freiberga told a press conference that while her candidacy was a long shot, it was time for a woman needed to break into the Secretary-General's "all boys club.") 2. (C) Vike-Freiberga said she would take full advantage of her few days in New York for the UNGA to press her candidacy with world leaders, though she would have to leave early to fulfill a long-standing commitment to travel to Canada on September 20 on a state visit. After her visit to Canada, she would stop at the Summit of the Organization of Francophone Countries in Romania, where she would have the opportunity to make a speech in French and present Latvia's application for observer status. She remarked that she had a "good conversation" with the Chinese Prime Minister during a recent Europe-Asian Summit in Helsinki and French President Chirac had, in a recent meeting, offered to make the case for Latvia's candidacy to Russian President Putin. The Greek Prime Minister had, however, told her that it was "only fair" that it was Asia's turn, though he had noted that it would not be the only criteria. 3. (C) Ambassador Bolton noted that the U.S. welcomed her entry into the race, as part of long-standing U.S. support for the broadest possible field of candidates and rejection of the principle of regional rotation. Her entry, and the possibility of others in the coming days, would deepen the discussion during this year's UNGA. While the Security Council continued to believe that it was important to make a selection early enough to provide adequate transition time for the incoming SYG, that should not be understood to imply that the process was over. BOLTON |