SURINAME FIRST LADY LIKELY UNABLE TO ATTEND MRS.

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000406 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/EDA FOR SHARON KOTOK; PROTOCOL FOR AMY LITTLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA NS SOCI SUBJECT: SURINAME FIRST LADY LIKELY UNABLE TO ATTEND MRS. BUSH LITERACY/HEALTH EVENT REF: SECSTATE 104172 ¶1. Per reftel, post met with Nalinie Sewpersadsingh, Head of the International Organizations Division of the Government of Suriname Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and discussed possible attendance of the First Lady of Suriname, Liesbeth Venetiaan, at a September 24 event to be hosted by Mrs. Bush. ¶2. Informally, Sewpersadsingh indicated as of July 27 that President Ronald Venetiaan did not intend to attend the UNGA this year. However, on August 1 she indicated (again informally) that President Venetiaan is now reconsidering, as he is interested in attending unspecified parallel activities on climate change. Sewpersadsingh said that there is therefore an "outside possibility" that Mrs. Venetiaan might be in New York on September 24. ¶3. Post will inform the department of any further responses. SCHREIBER HUGHES