AMBASSADOR SIEGEL PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

UNCLAS NASSAU 001399

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, ISN/CPI JANE PURCELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER PREL PTER UNGA BF
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SIEGEL PRESENTS CREDENTIALS



1. Summary: Ambassador Siegel presented his credentials to
Governor General Arthur Dion Hanna on November 14 in a
ceremony at Government House. Prior to the ceremony, the
Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Brent Symonette, who
affirmed the government's desire to maintain the best
possible relations with the United States. To this end, the
Foreign Minister told the Ambassador that The Bahamas had
decided to support the U.S. positions on country specific
human rights resolutions at the Third Committee of the UN
General Assembly. He also told the Ambassador that Bahamian
accession to the Proliferation Security Initiative had been
approved in principle by the government, pending the
completion of some legal reviews. End Summary.


2. On behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Governor
General of The Bahamas accepted the credentials of Ambassador
Ned L. Siegel as the 12th U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas, as
well as the letter of recall of former Ambassador John
Darrell Rood. In his remarks to the Governor General, the
Ambassador highlighted the close and productive bilateral
partnership between the two nations and their shared
commitment to democracy and the rule of law. He affirmed his
desire to strengthen relations and expand our efforts to
combat illegal drugs and illegal migration, defend human
rights, enhance common efforts against terrorism, and build
prosperity and security. The Ambassador specifically noted
the U.S. desire to finalize a Proliferation Security
Initiative, and work together internationally to counter
human rights abuses. Finally, the Ambassador spoke of his
desire to deepen commercial and educational ties between the
United States and The Bahamas and ensure that the Embassy
remains an active civic partner.


3. The Governor General conveyed the Government's
appreciation to the President for sending an Ambassador of
such stature and accomplishment in his previous business and
government careers. He noted the "many significant strides"
that have been made in combating illegal narcotics and
migrant trafficking through Operation Bahamas Turks and
Caicos. He specifically thanked the embassy for its
assistance provided in the wake of Tropical Storm Noel (both
through OPBAT helicopter support for aerial damage
assessments of remote areas and in identifying resources
needed to facilitate post-storm cleanup). The Governor
General then hosted a lunch for the Ambassador attended by
the Bahamian Foreign Minister Symonette Chief of the Cabinet
Wendell Major, and PLP Shadow Foreign Minister Mitchell,
among others.


4. Prior to the ceremony, Ambassador Siegel and DCM paid a
courtesy call on Bahamian Foreign Minister Brent Symonette
and his senior Ministry staff. The Minister emphasized that
the relationship with the U.S. was by far the most important
relationship for The Bahamas, and one to which his government
was deeply committed. Noting that the Third Committee of the
UN General Assembly was set to take votes on key human rights
resolutions, the Minister informed the Ambassador that the
Bahamas had decided to support U.S. efforts to pass
resolutions on the human rights situations in Burma, North
Korea, Iran and Belarus. The Ambassador welcomed Bahamian
support, noting that when he served as a member of the U.S.
delegation to the UNGA the previous year, Bahamian support
for Guatemala over Venezuela for the Security Council had
been an important contribution.


5. Minister Symonette also advised the Ambassador that the
Government had recently decided to approve conclusion of a
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) agreement, which the
U.S. has been seeking to conclude for over two years. The
proposed agreement was in the final review stages, and the
Minister said he would be in contact with the Embassy when it
was ready to move forward. The Ambassador welcomed this
step, which he noted was vital to international
non-proliferation efforts -- especially given the Bahamas
position as the third largest ship registry country.


6. Comment: The Ambassador's presentation of credentials
offered an ideal occasion for the Bahamas to register their
support on issues on which the Embassy has been lobbying,
including the upcoming Third Committee resolutions and the
PSI. We expect that this support on key human rights issues
in the first year of the new government should lead to
consistent Bahamian support on such resolutions throughout
the FNM's term in office. The previous government had
generally abstained on such resolutions. Likewise, the
willingness to conclude a PSI augurs well for continued close
cooperation against terrorism. In announcing these steps,
the Government clearly wanted to send a strong message of
welcome to the desire and to affirm their interest in a close
partnership with the U.S.
SIEGEL