REQUEST FOR HEAD OF STATE-LEVEL DEMARCHE BY

UNCLAS STATE 105116

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL DR
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR HEAD OF STATE-LEVEL DEMARCHE BY
AMBASSADOR


1. This is an action request for the Ambassador or
Charge.

OBJECTIVE
--------------


2. To seek tangible improvements in UNGA voting by the
Dominican Republic
as part of a targeted effort to engage 17 friendly
countries whose UNGA voting records vary sharply from
their close relations with the U.S. The President and the
Secretary have endorsed this initiative.

ACTION REQUESTED
--------------


3. To align the Dominican Republic,s voting record more
closely with that
of the United States on key votes, the Ambassador or Charge
is
requested to meet with the Head of State, upon his return
from UNGA, and deliver a demarche bringing his attention
to the Dominican Republic,s low voting coincidence with the
U.S. (when not including consensus resolutions). If the
Head of State is not available to receive the demarche
within a reasonable time, the meeting should be held with
the Foreign Minister.

TALKING POINTS
--------------


4. Ambassador or Charge may draw on the following points:

-- As allies, the United States and the Dominican Republic
cooperate and work closely together in many areas. (Post may
add specific examples at its own discretion). We have many
ties of friendship as well as common hopes,
principles, and values.

-- Yet in 2007 the Dominican Republic voted with the U.S. in
the UN
General Assembly only 7.7 % of the time, when not including
consensus votes.

-- The United States views the United Nations as having
great potential for achieving progress on many issues. If
agreement and widespread support among Member States can
be reached for balanced and responsible resolutions,
decisions, and other initiatives it would make the UN more
effective and a more credible voice in the world.

-- We understand that some votes may be explained by
solidarity with regional groups or blocs based on other
factors, but, in our view, such solidarity often appears
inconsistent with the national interests and policies of
your government outside the unique culture of the United
Nations.

-- As the new session of the UN General Assembly begins, I
hope you will bear in mind that in the U.S. both the
President and the Congress view UN voting coincidence as a
barometer of the closeness of a bilateral relationship.

-- In the coming weeks I hope we can begin a dialogue
between our experts and yours on how we might better
improve cooperation on issues of importance before the UN.

End Points.

BACKGROUND ON THIS INITIATIVE
--------------


5. Key issues of importance to U.S. policy interests are
being brought increasingly to vote in the UN. These
include human rights, the UN budget, Israel, and
development assistance. At the same time, the Group of 77
(G-77) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) bloc is more unified
and votes consistently against the U.S. The Department
and other agencies have been working on a long-term
strategy to counter these developments in the General
Assembly. A key element of the Department's strategy is
the delivery of demarches at the most senior level in 17
select capitals on UNGA voting records, U.S. priorities,
and areas where we might work together more effectively.
This is the first requested demarche, which seeks tangible
improvements in UNGA voting by the host country. Details
on each UN Member State's most recent voting records are
available on the Department's website at
www.state.gov/p/io/rls/rpt/c25867/.htm in the annual
report to Congress entitled "Voting Practices in the
United Nations 2007." The Department and other agencies
believe that the diversity of national interests and
ideologies outside the UN can be translated into better
voting inside the UN through friendly but assertive
approaches to G-77/NAM countries that have reasonably good
relations with the U.S.
RICE