PHILIPPINES TO CONSIDER SWING CANDIDACY FOR IOM DG

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 002417 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS AND PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2012 TAGS: PREL AORC PREF SMIG RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES TO CONSIDER SWING CANDIDACY FOR IOM DG REF: STATE 93916 Classified By: POL/C Scott Bellard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a July 18 meeting with Leah Ruiz, Director in the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of United Nations and International Organizations, poloff requested Philippine support for Ambassador Swing's candidacy for Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) (reftel) . Ruiz promised that the Philippines would fully study Ambassador Swing's qualifications, noting that official U.S. backing adds considerable weight to Ambassador Swing's candidacy. However, Ruiz admitted that the Philippines' push for observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference is often a factor in Philippine policy-making calculations on such decisions, citing possible OIC support for another candidate in this case. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm. KENNEY