IRAN LOSES RESOUNDINGLY IN SECURITY COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000955

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2018
TAGS: UNGA UNSC PREL AORC
SUBJECT: IRAN LOSES RESOUNDINGLY IN SECURITY COUNCIL
MEMBERSHIP BID

Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (U) Summary: Iran polled a mere 32 votes from the
192-member UN General Assembly in its failed bid for a
Security Council seat over Japan. Austria, Japan, Mexico,
Turkey, and Uganda were elected in first round balloting.
End Summary.


2. (U) In one round of balloting October 17, the UN General
Assembly elected Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, and Uganda
to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for
two-year terms starting on January 1, 2009. They will
replace Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, and South Africa
upon the expiration of their terms on the 15-member body at
the end of 2008.


3. (U) Detailed results:

Ballot A: African and Asian Candidatures
valid ballots: 191 (not including 1 abstention)
2/3 threshold: 128

Uganda 181 (was endorsed by its regional group)
Japan 158
Iran 32
Madagascar 1 (had withdrawn prior to the election)


Ballot B: Latin American and Caribbean Candidatures
valid ballots: 186 (not including 6 abstentions)
2/3 threshold: 124

Mexico 185 (was endorsed by its regional group)
Brazil 1 (was not a declared candidate)


Ballot C: Western European and other States Candidatures
valid ballots: 192
2/3 threshold: 128

Turkey 151
Austria 133
Iceland 87
Australia 1 (was not a declared candidate).



4. (C) Iran at 32 votes fell far short not only of victory,
but of the 57 possible votes of the member states of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the 65 votes that
would have blocked a 2/3 result by Japan. (The current OIC
chair, the Ugandan Permanent Representative, confidentially
predicted last week that the OIC would be split in its
support of Iran.) Nonetheless, Japan had feared a larger
Iranian vote and campaigned hard. It took nothing for
granted right up to the balloting, reminding that it is the
second largest contributor to UN budgets and has provided
human resources to eight peace operations. Japan has served
on the Security Council for 18 years since its admission to
the UN in 1956. Mongolia had withdrawn from the race in
January 2007 when Japan announced its candidacy, clearing the
way for what many had hoped would eventually result in an
endorsed slate.


5. (C) Iran announced its candidacy in September 2007,
relatively late in the process. Its argument was for
sub-regional rotation on the Council to counter a 10th term
for Japan. Iran was on the Council only once (1955-1956)
with no other candidatures over the years. Its decisive
defeat in this election has been interpreted as a signal of
the international community's concerns about Tehran's
standing in the UN and its disregard of Security Council
resolutions.

6.(C) Turkey made this campaign a national priority,
deploying additional ambassadors to New York for lobbying,
and being able to depend on an Organization of Islamic
Council support base. Further, Turkey emphasized its
"crossroads" identity spanning geographic regions, cultures,
and religions. Its involvement in peacekeeping activities
has it ranked 28th in military and police contributors to UN
missions; as well it has been actively involved in UN
counter-terrorism initiatives. It was last on the Council in

1961.



7. (C) As for Iceland and Austria, there were expectations
of a tighter race, and perhaps a second ballot runoff.
Iceland has never served on Council, its candidacy had
traction with small countries, and it claimed to have
received more promises of support than delivered. Iceland
launched a campaign highlighting its independent-minded
foreign policy and tried to identify with states anxious
about the immediate effects of climate change. Its Foreign
Minister, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, appeared vibrant,
shaking hands at the entrance of the Assembly Hall - merely a
few weeks since brain surgery. According to many observers -
and contrary to the FM's post-election press comments -
Iceland's recent major financial meltdown seriously deflated
its bid. The Icelandic loss also dashed the aspirations of
Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden who presented Iceland's
bid as a Nordic candidature.


8. (C) Austrian campaign efforts were consistent and
considerable, as well, and hosting UN agencies such as the
International Atomic Energy Association gave it an added
talking point.


9. (U) Mexico was uncontested in its bid. It served on the
Council in 1946-47, 1980-81, and 2002-03. Uganda enjoyed the
endorsement of the African Union and then of its regional
group. It served a split term in 1966 and a full term
1981-82.
Khalilzad