BOTSWANA CANDIDATE: 5TH COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

UNCLAS GABORONE 000837 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/MPR B. HACKETT USUN FOR USUN/MR E. CHEN, B.RASHKOW, C. NORMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC UNGA UNGA BC SUBJECT: BOTSWANA CANDIDATE: 5TH COMMITTEE ELECTIONS REF: STATE 105347 ¶1. (U) Reftel requested post to obtain information about Botswana's candidate for the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ),Mr. Collen V. Kelapile. Mr. Kelapile is a career diplomat who joined Botswana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995. His early work with the MFA focused on multilateral affairs, and since 1998 he has been based in New York dealing with UN issues. He has served on the ACABQ since 2004, and is currently its Vice Chairman. Post will email Kelapile's CV and other biographical information to both IO and USUN for consideration. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Post is not aware of any adverse information about Mr. Kelapile. He seems to be well-regarded within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has focused his career on UN issues. Embassy officers have no personal knowledge of Mr. Kelapile, but we can comment that Botswana diplomats tend to be highly professional and easy to work with. The USG and GOB often see eye to eye on international issues/problems, such as the crises in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. In addition, the GOB tends to be fiscally conservative and follow sound management and human resources principles. We believe that Botswana would be a useful partner on UN administrative issues, and therefore recommend that the US delegation support Mr. Kelapile's candidacy. End Comment. NOLAN