TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO CONTINUE VOTING YES ON UNGA ISRAEL

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000462 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USUN NEW YORK FOR IO/UNP ANDREW MORRISON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA KPAL IS SY LE SUBJECT: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO CONTINUE VOTING YES ON UNGA ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 118799 ¶1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarche to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director Margaret Rousseau November 19. Rousseau said that Trinidad and Tobago will generally continue to vote in favor of resolutions on the Middle East as outlined in reftel, particularly, she said, "given recent developments in the region." Specifically, she said recent USG statements on the expansion of settlements were an "irritation. " ¶2. (SBU) Rousseau said she agreed with the USG position that countries can support the Palestinian people while also supporting Israel, and noted that the GOTT has excellent relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as evidenced by official visits to both by PM Manning. She concluded by saying that the GOTT is in favor of peaceful coexistence in the Middle East, and will consider changing its vote when there is a "change in the situation on the ground." KUSNITZ