INITIAL SALVADORAN RESPONSE TO U.S. CANDIDATE FOR

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001549 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EUN PREF PREL SMIG ES SUBJECT: INITIAL SALVADORAN RESPONSE TO U.S. CANDIDATE FOR IOM DIRECTOR GENERAL REF: STATE 93920 ¶1. (U) Poloff raised reftel points and discussed Ambassador Swing's background and candidacy during an August 9 meeting with Mauricio Ruiz, the MFA official in charge of candidacies. Poloff reiterated points raised during a July 23 meeting with Mario Rivera, Director of Multilateral Affairs for the Salvadoran Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Rivera had been unaware that the U.S. was supporting a new candidate for Director General of the IOM and said that he understood the U.S. position as it relates to term limits within the organization. ¶2. (U) In both meetings, MFA officials were positive regarding Ambassador Swing's candidacy but said that they needed more time to review his CV. Ruiz added that he could not give a firm response at this time since the election for the IOM Director General would not be held until mid-2008. Butler