AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH PALAU PR BECK

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001013

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECIN PREL MARR PS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH PALAU PR BECK


1. (SBU) During a meeting with Ambassador Rice, Palau PermRep
Stuart Beck conveyed a message from Palau President Toribiong
that his country will "never change its loyalty" to the
United States. To illustrate the point, Beck raised Palau's
support in the UN General Assembly, including the recent "no"
vote on the Cuban Embargo resolution as well as consistent
"no" votes on Israel resolutions. Beck also noted that Palau
recently accepted six Uighers from Guantanamo Bay detention
facility at the request of President Obama, despite repeated
Chinese demarches and domestic pressure to turn them away.
Beck remarked that Palau is happy to be the United States'
"number one friend," but added that the obligation now shifts
to the United States to ensure the government is supported
and "to do what it can for President Toribiong." It is
"incongruous" for Palau to be "out in front" (in UNGA voting)
with less support, he remarked. (Note: Palau ranks fourth
in voting coincidence with the United States, but has
consistently voted with the U.S. on particularly
controversial resolutions like the Cuban Embargo resolution.
End Note.)


2. (SBU) Ambassador Beck said that the current compact offer
to Palau would "cripple" the government and was much lower
than offers made to the Federated States of Micronesia and
the Marshall Islands in 2002. Ambassador Rice remarked that
Palau receives more assistance from the United States per
capita than any other country and it would increase under the
new proposal. Beck responded that the Palauans use U.S.
assistance to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands as a
measuring stick. He contended that Palau's proposal had not
received an adequate response.


3. (SBU) Beck reiterated that the U.S. agreement with Palau
gives the United States fifty years to build military
installations as needed in Palau "in the over-reaching manner
of the Department of State," and also allows the United
States to deny the country a military. A good part of
Palau's sovereignty has been given to the United States, he
contended, adding that no modern, normative international law
would allow this. He praised the leadership of President
Toribiong and the importance of keeping him for eight years,
stressing the need for the United States to show its support
for his presidency. Specifically, Beck said that the United
States needs to either replenish Palau's trust fund or enter
into a whole new negotiation of the Compact.


3. (SBU) Beck commented that the Pacific Islands were
"touched" by recent U.S. engagement with the group, including
Ambassador Rice's Pacific Island lunch and Secretary
Clinton's meeting with Pacific Islands Heads of State.
Ambassador Rice again thanked Beck for Palau's partnership
and support on difficult issues such as the Cuban Embargo
resolution. USUN Regional Advisor Ambassador Plaisted
assured Beck that the United States values Palau's
friendship, is taking Palau's compact review very seriously,
and hopes to conclude the review as soon as possible.
Rice