SURINAME: NO CONCRETE INFORMATION YET ON UN

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000407 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/PPC FOR BATLLE, USUN FOR MCBRIDE, NSC FOR MCDONALD, WHA/PPC FOR GONZALEZ, DEACON, AND MILLER, WHA/CAR FOR ROSHOLT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA NS SUBJECT: SURINAME: NO CONCRETE INFORMATION YET ON UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY REF: SECSTATE 101170 ¶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 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) attendance. Post met with Sewpersadsingh on July 27 and again on August 1. Sewpersadsingh said she has no firm information yet, but promised repeatedly to keep post informed. ¶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 Foreign Minister Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk is definitely planning on attending, but that no dates are set. She had no information on other VIPs. In Suriname, the President is both Head of State and Head of Government. ¶3. Sewpersadsingh said she herself does not plan to attend this year, though she does plan to send the majority of her staff in rotations. She said the dates are not yet dertermined. Her staff is as follows: Rosita Hubard, Deputy Head, issue focus: human rights Chantal Eisenhout, issue focus: human rights Bianca Doelahasori, issue focus: economics/financial (not likely to attend) Nicole Hew a Kee, issue focus: unknown Juliette Redman, issue focus: social affairs/U.N. reform (not likely to attend) Terry Shameen, issue focus: environment ¶4. Post will inform of further response. SCHREIBER HUGHES