FINLAND "POSITIVE" ABOUT U.S. IMO CANDIDACY

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000816 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE: IO/T FOR L. LUFTIG EMBASSY LONDON: EST - J. WHITTLESEY COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC: CG-52 AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC IMO EWWT PHSA UK FI SUBJECT: FINLAND "POSITIVE" ABOUT U.S. IMO CANDIDACY REF: STATE 148540 ¶1. (SBU) In response to the demarche on re-election of the U.S. to the IMO Council in category "A," Ann-Christine Kivela, Secretary for International Affairs at the Finnish Maritime Administration said Finland "acknowledges the United States will be seeking re-election to Category 'A' of the Council of the International Maritime Organization..." and that "Finland will give the most careful consideration to this candidacy." She continued by saying Finland has a "traditionally positive attitude" toward U.S. candidacy. Paavo Wihuri, Director of Maritime Safety and Security at the Finnish Maritime Administration, will lead the Finnish delegation in London. WARE