GOM PROPOSES TRADE ON IMO ELECTION

UNCLAS MEXICO 003357 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MX AORC IMO EWWT PHSA UK PREL SUBJECT: GOM PROPOSES TRADE ON IMO ELECTION REF: STATE 098012 ¶1. (SBU) Post sent a dipnote and aide-memoire October 14 requesting GOM support for USG candidacy in Category "A" of the International Maritime Council election. Before sending the dipnote, Poloff also spoke regarding this candidacy with Dulce Maria Valle, SRE Deputy General of Specialized International Organizations at the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE). She told Poloff that the SRE would get back to us with a response within several weeks. ¶2. On November 23, Norma Suarez, Director of UN Candidacies, called Poloff to request the USG's support for Mexico's election to Category "C" of the Council. Noting that 27 countries were running for twenty seats in Category "C," Suarez expressed great concern regarding the prospects for Mexico to remain on the Council. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff noted that the Department may have already made a decision on the U.S. votes for this Category, but additionally recalled Post's earlier dipnote and the USG's request for Mexican support for the USG candidacy in Category "A." Suarez reported that the GOM had committed nine of its ten votes in Category "A." The GOM had earlier sent a dipnote to the Government of Norway, suggesting that it trade votes with Mexico at the election. However, inasmuch as Mexico had not yet received response from Norway, Suarez believed the GOM's last vote in the "A" category was still likely available. She suggested that the USG and Mexican representatives connect as soon as possible in London to consider an "A" and "C" vote exchange. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / PASCUAL