JORDAN'S ILC CANDIDATE AND PERMREP MEET WITH USUN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000883 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR L/UNA: TODD BUCHWALD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2011 TAGS: UNGA ILC SUBJECT: JORDAN'S ILC CANDIDATE AND PERMREP MEET WITH USUN REF: USUN 3150 Classified By: Deputy Permanent Representative Alex Wolff, for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Ambassador Wolff met April 19 with Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations, and Mahmoud Hmoud, Legal Adviser at the Jordanian Mission, regarding Mr. Hmoud's candidacy for the International Law Commission (ILC). Elections for the ILC's 2007-2011 term will be held during the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly. ¶2. (U) Prince Zeid told Ambassador Wolff that Jordan has only fielded two candidates for UN committees and bodies in the past five-and-a-half years, so Jordan's decision to present Mr. Hmoud's candidacy is significant. Zeid called Mr. Hmoud "someone we're quite proud of," citing his experience and credentials. ¶3. (U) Ambassador Wolff explained that, consistent with our longstanding policy, the United States would not reveal whom it would vote for or whom it voted for in previous elections. He also assured Prince Zeid that the United States would give Mr. Hmoud's candidacy every consideration. ¶4. (C) Comment: Per reftel, USUN recommends that the Department not/not support Mr. Hmoud's candidacy. End Comment. BOLTON