SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND KOSOVO ON AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000752 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV XL ZL SUBJECT: SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND KOSOVO ON AMBASSADOR BIDS FAREWELL TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA Classified By: Ambassador Mary M. Ourisman Reason 1.4 (b/d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Ambassador Ourisman paid a farewell call on an engaging Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda December 16. Spencer told the Ambassador she will be missed and praised her service to the U.S. and its relations with the region. The Ambassador called Spencer,s attention to opportunities to work more closely on security, HIV/AIDS, human rights issues in the United Nations, and the recognition of Kosovo. The Ambassador also reviewed the status of the Half Moon Bay expropriation dispute and the ongoing deliberations toward a resolution of the WTO case on online gaming. Spencer thanked the Ambassador for her commitment to strengthening ties between the U.S. and the region, and said he looked forward to working with the new U.S. administration. End Summary. -------------- Security -------------- ¶2. (C) Highlighting our past and ongoing security cooperation with Antigua and the Eastern Caribbean region, Ambassador Ourisman noted our disappointment that the security dialogue meeting scheduled for December 8 had been cancelled at CARICOM,s request, but emphasized that work was continuing at the technical level, and that we were looking to CARICOM countries to identify their most urgent security needs and priorities. The Ambassador also brought to Spencer's attention several opportunities to deepen security cooperation in the coming months. Specifically, she noted that the USS Swift, a Navy training platform, would be based in Barbados in January and March to conduct an array of maritime and law enforcement-related training for countries in the region, and she encouraged Antigua to make the most of this opportunity. The Ambassador also noted that Antigua had been chosen as the site for the new U.S.-funded regional cyber forensics lab, and she encouraged Spencer to move quickly to finalize the physical infrastructure needed to house the facility. Spencer assured the Ambassador he would push the project forward, and subsequently invited her to visit the site the government has identified to host the lab. -------------- UN Voting and the Recognition of Kosovo -------------- ¶3. (C) Turning to human rights, the Ambassador noted that she had hoped to see closer cooperation with Antigua on key human rights issues in the United Nations, given Antigua,s longstanding tradition of respect for human rights at home. She asked Spencer for support on upcoming human rights votes in the UN in plenary session later that week, and Spencer quickly agreed on the importance of allowing debate on such issues in the UN. He suggested that the U.S. position was also the position of his government. While admitting that Antigua,s recent votes did not reflect this, the PM said he would discuss the issue with his Ambassador to the UN and determine if changes in Antigua,s approach would be appropriate. On the issue of Kosovo recognition, PM Spencer said the issue was under active consideration within CARICOM, which was attempting to arrive at a common position on the issue. At this time, he said, the issue is "not closed." The Ambassador noted that 53 countries have now recognized Kosovo, and that the government there had made significant progress on issues of minority rights. -------------- WTO Online Gambling Case and Half Moon Bay -------------- ¶4. (C) Prime Minister Spencer reiterated his hope for a favorable outcome to the long-simmering WTO gaming dispute, which he hoped would benefit all parties involved. He stressed, though, that he does not want to lose the economic lift that online gaming provides Antigua, especially at a time when tourism is facing a slowdown. As she did when she paid her initial courtesy calls two years before, the Ambassador urged the PM to resolve the longstanding Half Moon Bay expropriation dispute. Spencer said the matter was finally at the adjudication stage, and pointed out that it is not in the interest of the GOAB to delay the any longer because they have entered into an agreement to develop the property. -------------- Caribbean Issues and the Obama Administration -------------- ¶5. (C) Stressing the importance of the upcoming Summit of the Americas, the Ambassador expressed hope that the GOABwould see the meeting as an opportunity to bringhemispheric focus on priority Caribbean issues an to engage constructively with the Obama administration. Spencer, who recently re-named the highest peak in Antigua &Mount Obama,8 said he hoped to secure an early meeting with the new administration,s team at the summit. He expressed hope that President-Elect Obama would have good insights into the issues facing the Caribbean. He expressed his desire to build upon the open dialogue that has been established during the Bush Administration, particularly with the Conference on the Caribbean and subsequent meetings. -------------- -- HIV/AIDS, Health, and Non-Communicable Diseases -------------- -- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador reaffirmed U.S. support for combating HIV/AIDS, and noted that the region would soon be the beneficiary of the first-ever regional PEPFAR program. She said the Embassy in Bridgetown, through its USAID, CDC, and SOUTHCOM representatives, would be actively engaging countries in the region in the months ahead to shape the new program, and welcomed Antigua,s engagement in this process. Spencer noted his country,s gratitude for the President,s commitments on HIV/AIDS, and said he hoped there will be more focus in the future on non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. The Ambassador highlighted the planned visit of the hospital ship, the U.S.S. Comfort, which will visit Antigua in May to provide medical treatment for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and other countries in the region. She welcomed Antigua,s willingness to host the vessel and said this collaboration reflected our continued commitment to Antigua and Barbuda and to the region. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Prime Minister Spencer, who is facing elections early in the New Year, was warm and effusive in his praise for the Ambassador and for U.S. engagement with Antigua and Barbuda during the Ambassador,s tenure. He recognized the importance of the extensive training provided Antigua,s law enforcement authorities, and was eager to affirm his willingness to host the regional cyber forensics lab. Spencer has been working closely with his ministers to prepare for the arrival of the USS Comfort and can be expected to work with us to ensure the success of the visit. Spencer feels he has made enough progress during his first term to merit a second term from the voters, but acknowledged it had been tough sledding to overcome decades of cronyism from the Bird governments. He has told his cabinet to be ready any time after the New Year for what are expected to be hard-fought elections. OURISMAN