Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09GENEVA377
2009-05-15 16:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
US Mission Geneva
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGV #0377 1351630 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151630Z MAY 09 FM USMISSION GENEVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8426 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3031
UNCLAS GENEVA 000377
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/T, IO/EDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON UNCTAD
SUBJECT: UNCTAD SECGEN RACE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET
UNCLAS GENEVA 000377
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/T, IO/EDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON UNCTAD
SUBJECT: UNCTAD SECGEN RACE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Cote d'Ivoire Perm Rep Gauze is bidding to
replace current UNCTAD Secretary General Supachai, whose first term
ends this summer, but the challenge is unlikely to meet with much
success absent Africa Group support. END SUMMARY
Ambassador declares candidacy
--------------
2. (SBU) Ivory Coast Ambassador Guy Alain Gauze visited Charge on
May 13 to present his candidacy for the post of UNCTAD Secretary
General. After initially confusing us by speaking about himself in
the third person, Gauze made clear that he thinks he is a very good
candidate due to his experience in Geneva. However, when asked what
concrete projects he envisioned for UNCTAD under his leadership, he
merely said he hoped to organize regional conferences to focus on
the specific needs of the developing countries.
3. (SBU) Gauze criticized UNCTAD for failing to deliver results, as
judged either by the donor countries or the developing countries.
He said UNCTAD need not always have a North-South divide. He added
that under Supachai's absence of leadership, UNCTAD has been on
autopilot.
4. (SBU) Gauze acknowledged that the Africa Group has not yet
decided upon a candidate, and that Kenya has also floated a proposal
to field a candidate (former Trade Minister Kituyi). He suggested
that the Africa Group would soon decide, and would endorse him,
because of the desire for UNCTAD to be more responsive to African
LDCs.
Thai Response: Supachai wants to continue
--------------
5. (SBU) Thai Charge Vijavat (Kit) Isarabhakdi visited on May 15 to
provide, in understated Thai fashion, background on the
re-appointment of Supachai in order to dispel any doubts that
Supachai wants and deserves a second term. He noted that past
practice has been for UNCTAD SGs to serve two terms; no one yet has
served only one. Rumors are untrue that Supachai is uninterested in
the job, wants to go back to Thailand for a political post, and has
lost the confidence of UN SyG Ban. Ban has already told delegations
in New York of his intent to keep Supachai. Sudan, as Chair of the
G77 and the Africa Group, had asked Ban for more time for
consultations in recognition of the two possible African candidates
(including another one from Kenya),but no one wants this to drag
on. He added that the letter he had received from the Ivory Coast
Mission had been signed by that Mission's DCM, so he doubts that
Gauze has his own government's support, much less that of the Africa
Group. However, he acknowledged that India, smarting about Indian
national Lakshmi Puri not being chosen as UNCTAD Deputy, has begun
campaigning against Supachai too, and so he requested US support for
keeping Supachai.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) In our view, Gauze has not presented a strong case. The
possible Kenyan candidate has not yet approached us, so although we
have heard good things about him, we do not know if he can present a
credible challenge to Supachai. Without the African Group mounting
a better organized campaign, Supachai is likely to remain. Until
and unless the Africa Group decides upon a single candidate, the USG
need not take a position on this issue.
STORELLA #
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/T, IO/EDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON UNCTAD
SUBJECT: UNCTAD SECGEN RACE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Cote d'Ivoire Perm Rep Gauze is bidding to
replace current UNCTAD Secretary General Supachai, whose first term
ends this summer, but the challenge is unlikely to meet with much
success absent Africa Group support. END SUMMARY
Ambassador declares candidacy
--------------
2. (SBU) Ivory Coast Ambassador Guy Alain Gauze visited Charge on
May 13 to present his candidacy for the post of UNCTAD Secretary
General. After initially confusing us by speaking about himself in
the third person, Gauze made clear that he thinks he is a very good
candidate due to his experience in Geneva. However, when asked what
concrete projects he envisioned for UNCTAD under his leadership, he
merely said he hoped to organize regional conferences to focus on
the specific needs of the developing countries.
3. (SBU) Gauze criticized UNCTAD for failing to deliver results, as
judged either by the donor countries or the developing countries.
He said UNCTAD need not always have a North-South divide. He added
that under Supachai's absence of leadership, UNCTAD has been on
autopilot.
4. (SBU) Gauze acknowledged that the Africa Group has not yet
decided upon a candidate, and that Kenya has also floated a proposal
to field a candidate (former Trade Minister Kituyi). He suggested
that the Africa Group would soon decide, and would endorse him,
because of the desire for UNCTAD to be more responsive to African
LDCs.
Thai Response: Supachai wants to continue
--------------
5. (SBU) Thai Charge Vijavat (Kit) Isarabhakdi visited on May 15 to
provide, in understated Thai fashion, background on the
re-appointment of Supachai in order to dispel any doubts that
Supachai wants and deserves a second term. He noted that past
practice has been for UNCTAD SGs to serve two terms; no one yet has
served only one. Rumors are untrue that Supachai is uninterested in
the job, wants to go back to Thailand for a political post, and has
lost the confidence of UN SyG Ban. Ban has already told delegations
in New York of his intent to keep Supachai. Sudan, as Chair of the
G77 and the Africa Group, had asked Ban for more time for
consultations in recognition of the two possible African candidates
(including another one from Kenya),but no one wants this to drag
on. He added that the letter he had received from the Ivory Coast
Mission had been signed by that Mission's DCM, so he doubts that
Gauze has his own government's support, much less that of the Africa
Group. However, he acknowledged that India, smarting about Indian
national Lakshmi Puri not being chosen as UNCTAD Deputy, has begun
campaigning against Supachai too, and so he requested US support for
keeping Supachai.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) In our view, Gauze has not presented a strong case. The
possible Kenyan candidate has not yet approached us, so although we
have heard good things about him, we do not know if he can present a
credible challenge to Supachai. Without the African Group mounting
a better organized campaign, Supachai is likely to remain. Until
and unless the Africa Group decides upon a single candidate, the USG
need not take a position on this issue.
STORELLA #