NICARAGUA AND FRIENDS MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000097 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR D, P, AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA SUBJECT: NICARAGUA AND FRIENDS MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY TO LOCK-IN MIGUEL D'ESCOTO AS NEXT PGA PRESIDENT REF: A) USUN 34 B) 07 USUN 941 Classified By: Classified by U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 6. ¶2. (C) Summary. Peruvian PermRep Voto-Bernales told Ambassador Wolff on February 1 that GRULAC inertia and passivity, complemented by a proactive Cuban/Venezuelan strategy, could result in the NAM endorsing Nicaraguan Miguel D'Escoto for president of the 63rd UN General Assembly (PGA) very soon -- unless an alternative candidate from the region comes forward. He reported that the El Salvador PermRep had circulated two letters in late January, one to the GRULAC and one to the NAM a few days later, announcing that Central American Foreign Ministers are supporting D'Escoto and encouraging official support from both groups. Voto-Bernales insisted that Latin FMs have not endorsed D'Escoto and speculated that Venezuelan resources could be influencing El Salvador's actions in New York. While Colombia, Peru and Chile were concerned and fighting the growing momentum toward D'Escoto, no one else in GRULAC, in particular Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, was speaking up. Voto-Bernales said he intended to challenge D'Escoto's endorsement when the NAM discusses the PGA, but urged the U.S. to persuade Paraguay or the Dominican Republic to field candidates soon, or D'Escoto's election could be unstoppable. End Summary. ¶3. (C) An exercised Voto-Bernales reviewed the state of play on the PGA election for Ambassador Wolff on February 1. He said that in December, Latin American Foreign Ministers publicly "took note" of the Nicaraguan's candidacy, using the precise language Central American Foreign Ministers had issued earlier. Latin Heads of State met a day later and made no/no reference to the PGA issue in their statement. Then, on January 22, El Salvadoran PermRep Carmen Gallardo Hernandez circulated a letter to the GRULAC here in New York announcing that the Central American Foreign Ministers had decided to support Miguel D'Escoto for the PGA of the 63rd session. This week, according to Voto-Bernales, El Salvador circulated the same message to the entire Non-Aligned Movement (led by Cuba),calling on NAM countries to support D'Escoto. Voto-Bernales said he was stunned by this and speculated that El Salvador was succumbing to financial or other pressure from Venezuela. ¶4. (C) Voto-Bernales told Ambassador Wolff that no one within GRULAC is moving seriously to reverse these steps. Colombia, Peru and Chile are the most concerned and doing what they can but he fears it will not be enough. In response, Venezuela and Nicaragua are targeting Colombia on a variety of issues to keep it on the defensive. He expressed frustration that Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are not speaking up. Voto-Bernales himself said that if a NAM meeting is called to discuss the matter, he plans to challenge the region's alleged endorsement of D'Escoto. Voto-Bernales' assessment is that, with no alternative candidate, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia are deliberately accelerating the process to deliver a fait accompli. He said that Paraguay and the Dominican Republic -- the two GRULAC countries which have not held the PGA and could field candidates, remain reluctant. Voto-Bernales concluded that, through GRULAC inertia and passivity, D'Escoto's candidacy is gaining steam and taking on a life of its own that will be difficult to stop. He appealed to the U.S. to encourage others in GRULAC to identify alternative candidates. ¶5. (C) Mission also recently learned that former Chilean UN PermRep Juan Gabriel Valdez would be interested in the job as a compromise candidate. However, as a Chilean has already served as PGA, a second candidate would still need to challenge D'Escoto before discussions on a compromise candidate would be productive. ¶6. (C) Comment and Action Request: A D'Escoto presidency of the Assembly would complicate matters for the U.S. Although the PGA's powers are limited, his ability to schedule meetings, propose compromises, and set a substantive agenda would put the U.S. on the defensive on many issues -- a factor no doubt high on the minds of CUBA and Venezuela. If concerned members of the GRULAC do not speak out or step forward with an alternative candidate soon and D'Escoto secures NAM endorsement for his candidature, his election as PGA is virtually assured. Mission recommends senior level calls to the leaders of Paraguay and the Dominican Republic to encourage they field candidates. Mission understands that the Secretary will be meeting with her El Salvadoran counterpart on Wednesday and, if appropriate, would suggest this issue be raised. KHALILZAD