UN APPEALS TRIBUNAL -- SEEKING INDONESIAN SUPPORT

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000313 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, IO/MPR (B.HACKETT); NSC FOR E.PHU; USUN FOR B.RASHKOW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA ID SUBJECT: UN APPEALS TRIBUNAL -- SEEKING INDONESIAN SUPPORT FOR U.S. CANDIDATE REF: STATE 16254 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Poloff urged Indonesia to support U.S. candidate Judge Mark P. Painter when the UN General Assembly voted on candidates for the UN Appeals Tribunal. Our contacts promised to consider Painter's candidacy but added that Indonesia would not announce its intentions before the vote. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) Per reftel instructions, Poloff raised the upcoming election for the UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) with Cicilia Rusdiharini, Deputy Director for North American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). Poloff noted that the UNAT was an important element of UN reform. He underscored that Painter would bring extensive legal experience and expertise to the UNAT and urged Indonesia to support him in the upcoming vote. ¶4. (SBU) Rusdiharini said Indonesia would consider Painter's candidacy. GOI officials would review the CV that we provided. She noted, however, that Indonesia did not normally announce how it planned to vote in advance of UN personnel elections such as this. HUME