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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWN #0777/01 1251956
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051956Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2430
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1423
RUEHCV/USDAO CARACAS VE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0065
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000777 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/OAS, WHA/CAR, AND WHA/CEN 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECIN ETRD KFPC KPAO OAS BB BF
TD, VE, XL 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MAISTO PETITIONS CARIBBEAN FOREIGN 
MINISTERS 
 
REF: BRIDGETOWN 635 
 
Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  U.S. Permanent Representative to the 
Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador John F. 
Maisto, visited Bridgetown, Barbados, April 26-28 to attend 
the U.K.-CARICOM Forum.  His primary goal was to meet with 
CARICOM Foreign Ministers to discuss the June OAS General 
Assembly and garner support for Guatemala's bid for a seat on 
the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) vice Venezuela.  He had 
individual meetings with six Foreign Ministers, plus pull 
asides with several more.  Ambassador Maisto granted an 
exclusive interview to the Caribbean Media Corporation for 
television, radio, and print distribution and held a 
roundtable discussion with Political Science students from 
the University of the West Indies (UWI), many of whom will be 
participating in a model-OAS conference in Colombia later 
this year. 
 
¶2. (C) Ambassador Maisto's message to each of the Foreign 
Ministers focused on the important achievements made during 
the FMs' recent meeting in the Bahamas with Secretary Rice. 
He emphasized that those same themes should be reflected in 
the political declaration at the upcoming OAS General 
Assembly in June, whose theme is "Good Governance and 
Development in the Knowledge-based Society."  He stressed 
four key themes:  representative democracy as reflected in 
the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and which includes 
long-term regional commitment to democracy-building in Haiti 
and its reintegration into CARICOM; development, including 
trade and investment; security cooperation, with particular 
emphasis on the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism 
(CICTE) and the run-up to the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 
and beyond; and natural disaster preparedness and relief.  He 
reviewed the pending Inter-American Commission on Human 
Rights (IACHR) reports on Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Venezuela, and Cuba at the General Assembly.  The Ambassador 
also strongly promoted the U.S. position in support of 
Guatemala, instead of Venezuela, for the U.N. Security 
Council seat in each of his meetings, citing Venezuela's 
behavior at the recent Inter-American Committee Against 
Terrorism (CICTE) meeting and its track record on issues 
regarding weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as cause for 
concern beyond bilateral or regional relations.  His 
admonition that Venezuela's actions affect U.S. security 
interests and threatened the "viability of the UN" in 
terrorism matters received varying degrees of interest and 
engagement but garnered no official backing.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Grenada FM Elvin Nimrod 
----------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) During his April 26-28 visit to Barbados to attend the 
U.K.-CARICOM Forum, U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS 
Ambassador John Maisto met with Grenada Foreign Minister 
Elvin Nimrod, the current Chairman of CARICOM,s Council for 
Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).  Ambassador Kramer, 
DCM Gilroy, and PolOff (notetaker) accompanied Ambassador 
Maisto.  In their April 26 discussion, Nimrod expressed the 
opinion that the meeting with Secretary Rice had helped 
remove the "chill" that had characterized U.S.-Caribbean 
relations.  When the Ambassador commented that the nature of 
the relationship had been largely the result of differences 
over Haiti, the FM added that Iraq and Article 98 had also 
contributed.  Regarding Venezuela's bid for a seat on the 
UNSC, Nimrod responded by mentioning CARICOM member Belize's 
border 
dispute with the other candidate for the seat, Guatemala.  He 
explained that individual Caribbean countries would likely 
take into account Venezuela's offer of oil with concessionary 
financing through PetroCaribe.  He also cited the impact high 
energy prices were having on the region, which was undergoing 
great "changes in the geopolitical landscape" as a result. 
 
 
Barbados FM Dame Billie Miller 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (C) Ambassador Maisto also met with Barbados Foreign 
Minister Dame Billie Miller and MFA Permanent Secretary 
Theresa Marshall on April 26.  He was again accompanied by 
 
Ambassador Kramer, DCM Gilroy, and PolOff (notetaker).  The 
meeting was open and collegial, with both sides speaking 
freely.  FM Miller began her response to Ambassador Maisto's 
OAS proposal by pointing out that Haiti has many issues to 
resolve and that development was of particular concern.  She 
noted the need to expand MINUSTAH's role to encompass the 
entire country, to focus on institutional capacity-building, 
and to ensure security beyond the presidential inauguration. 
Recognizing that support for Haiti will be an expensive 
long-term proposition, Miller expressed concern that 
investment in other Caribbean states seemed to be 
evaporating.  Ambassador Maisto offered OAS expertise to act 
as a catalyst to attract resources to strengthen institutions 
and noted that the organization's Trade Unit is a resource to 
be tapped in support of individual countries, and CARICOM,s 
- trade agenda. 
 
¶5. (C) In discussing upcoming elections in the region, both 
parties recognized Guyana as a potential trouble spot.  FM 
Miller noted that an observation mission would need to go in 
early and stay on the ground beyond the vote count.  She 
revealed that OAS Deputy Secretary General Ramdin had been to 
see her, but opined that because he was of Surinamese 
descent, he should not lead the OAS election observation team 
to Guyana, as the Guyanese would not receive him well. 
Miller suggested the OAS instead tap a regionally respected 
figure, and although she could offer no specific 
recommendations, said she would take this up with her 
Caribbean counterparts. 
 
¶6. (C) On the UNSC issue, FM Miller mentioned the "rumor" of 
a third country consensus candidate, and the possibility of 
Venezuela's voluntary withdrawal in that eventuality.  She 
cautioned that the recent maritime ruling by the Permanent 
Court of Arbitration in The Hague (reftel) may affect 
Barbados-Venezuela relations, and that the situation 
warranted close monitoring.  (Note: This ruling may also 
affect Trinidad-Venezuela relations.  End note.)  She was 
otherwise noncommittal. 
 
 
Dominica FM Charles Savarin 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) On April 26, Ambassador Maisto had an animated 
exchange with Dominica Foreign Minister Charles Savarin 
during the opening reception of the Forum.  While Savarin was 
cordial and attentive, his position was intractable regarding 
Guatemala's bid for a seat on the UNSC.  Speaking to 
Ambassador Kramer on April 27, Savarin provided further 
explanation, stating that it would be embarrassing for 
CARICOM to support Guatemala's bid for a seat on the UNSC at 
this time because of its withdrawal from the UN's good 
offices procedure to settle the border dispute with Belize. 
Guatemala could attempt to undo the damage and offer 
something to CARICOM by explaining its position on the border 
dispute, suggested the FM.  Savarin also presented his 
personal opinion that Belize is a difficult member of 
CARICOM, often committing itself on issues before the 
member-states could meet to formulate their typical consensus 
decisions.  The FM admitted to suggesting privately to other 
regional diplomats that Belize leave CARICOM. 
 
Bahamas FM Fred Mitchell 
------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) In an April 27 breakfast meeting, Bahamian Foreign 
Minister Fred Mitchell listened attentively to Ambassador 
Maisto's points.  He agreed with the need for a public 
declaration at the end of the June OAS General Assembly that 
reflected the substance and tenor of the U.S.-CARICOM joint 
statement at the Bahamas meeting.  On Haiti, Mitchell said 
CARICOM plans to meet with president-elect Rene Preval 
shortly after his inauguration to discuss Haiti's 
reintegration into CARICOM.  Mitchell said the Bahamas would 
have trouble supporting Guatemala's UNSC bid given that 
country's border dispute with CARICOM-member Belize. 
Mitchell also raised the possibility of a third regional UNSC 
candidate as an alternative and asked if the rumor that 
Venezuela would abandon its candidacy were true.  (Comment: 
Mitchell's mention of a third regional UNSC candidate 
suggests his country may not want to support Venezuela, but 
 
needs another option besides Guatemala.  Other Caribbean 
Foreign Ministers expressed this view privately as well.  End 
Comment.) 
 
Jamaica FM Anthony Hylton 
------------------------- 
 
¶9. (C) Following the final session of the Forum on April 27, 
Ambassador Maisto met with Jamaica Foreign Minister Anthony 
Hylton, who was generally receptive to the demarche.  Hylton 
opined that OAS security cooperation was 
integral, especially with regard to the upcoming Cricket 
World Cup which could be undermined (an understatement) by 
failure to coordinate security preparations.  The FM 
expressed Jamaica's intention to play a "very direct role" in 
Haiti's development, both through CARICOM and beyond, as part 
of its "good neighbor policy."  He mentioned that drug and 
weapons trafficking and refugee issues were of particular 
concern, and echoed FM Mitchell's statement regarding a 
CARICOM Ministerial Mission to Haiti after Preval's 
inauguration.  Hylton also noted his desire to attend the 
upcoming donor conference in Brazil, citing Jamaica's ability 
to contribute sincere interest and areas of expertise in lieu 
of cash.  Regarding the UNSC nomination, Hylton revealed that 
Belize Foreign Minister Eamon Courtney had earlier expressed 
to him his country's disappointment with developments in the 
border dispute with Guatemala, but Hylton offered no 
resolution to the matter. 
 
Trinidad and Tobago FM Knowlson Gift 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶10. (C) Ambassador Maisto had an open meeting with Trinidad 
and Tobago Foreign Minister Knowlson Gift late in the day on 
April 27.  After hearing the Ambassador out, Gift expressed 
concern that an IACHR review of Cuba might garner unwanted 
criticism of the U.S. for actions at Guantanamo Bay.  The 
Ambassador countered that comparing the U.S. response to 
terrorist acts by internationally recognized terrorist 
entities outside the standard 
rules of war with old-style persecution of political 
dissidents within a Stalinist dictatorship Castro,s Cuba - 
was like comparing "grapes to kumquats."  Regarding 
Guatemala's candidacy for the UNSC, Gift (like previous FMs) 
noted hopefully that there might be a third candidate in the 
making and that if that candidacy materialized, Venezuela 
might reconsider its bid.  Ambassador Maisto pointed out that 
the Dominican Republic (rumored to be the potential 3rd 
party) would not be submitting a candidate, as the DomRep 
ForMin had told us.  Gift assessed the situation 
realistically, noting that both Guatemala and Venezuela were 
embroiled in border disputes with Caribbean sister-nations. 
He expressed hope that by September, when the vote takes 
place, the dynamics of the border dispute might change, as 
the CARICOM countries were currently sitting "between the 
Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." 
 
Media and Roundtable Events 
--------------------------- 
 
¶11. (U) On the morning of April 27, Ambassador Maisto gave an 
interview to Caribbean Media Corporation reporter Kaymar 
Jordan, for a segment on the television program Prime Time 
Caribbean as well as print and radio distribution.  The 
one-on-one interview focused on topics raised in opening 
remarks by Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur at the 
U.K.-CARICOM Forum, which suggested that developed countries 
were turning their backs on the Caribbean.  Ambassador Maisto 
deftly answered the reporter's queries, focusing on U.S. 
commitment to support democracy and development, and to 
cooperate on security and natural disaster response.  He 
pointed out that governments do not invest in other 
countries, but that by creating an investor-friendly 
environment, governments could pave the way for job creation 
and prosperity.  He emphasized that trade agreements between 
small states and large states could be equitable for both 
parties, citing the example of the Dominican Republic as the 
6th largest trading partner in the hemisphere for the U.S. 
 
¶12. (U) Ambassador Maisto met with 15 students from the 
Government, Political and Social Sciences School at the 
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, for a 
 
roundtable discussion the afternoon of April 27.  Several 
of the students will be representatives at the model-OAS 
conference in Colombia later this year.  After outlining the 
mandate and methodology of the OAS and general U.S. goals in 
support of democracy, development and security in the western 
hemisphere, Ambassador Maisto opened the floor to questions 
from the students.  A lively, intellectual discussion ensued 
with topics including:  OAS involvement in electoral 
processes, including the upcoming Guyanese polls and concern 
over the transparency of the 2000 U.S. Presidential election; 
concern for shifts in democratic trends in Latin America; 
issues of trade development and regional trade agreements; 
natural disaster management and minimizing loss of life; and 
the threat of terrorism in the region.  The Ambassador nimbly 
fielded all of the thoughtful questions, including one 
pointed challenge regarding Aristide's ouster from Haiti. 
The Ambassador replied that while Artistide had been elected 
democratically, he had not governed democratically, which 
caused the breakdown in the relationship between the 
government and the governed.  The Ambassador explained that 
the choice to leave Haiti had been Aristide's, despite the 
former president's subsequent statements to the contrary. 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶13. (C) Riding the positive wave of the CARICOM Foreign 
Ministers' meeting with Secretary Rice, Ambassador Maisto's 
interlocutors agreed on the necessity of a substantive 
political declaration at the upcoming OAS General Assembly, 
that reflects the key issues discussed between them and the 
Secretary.  All parties also agreed on the importance of 
 
SIPDIS 
supporting Haiti's return to democracy and acknowledged that 
it would be a lengthy process.  Clearly, the Belize view of 
border dispute between Belize and Guatemala, and Venezuelan 
petrodiplomacy in the Eastern Caribbean make agreement on the 
UNSC candidacy more problematic, for now.  Despite some of 
the FMs' reservations about Venezuela, persuading the 
Caribbeans to turn their backs on Chavez will be difficult, 
absent a third candidate or progress, or perceived progress, 
on the Belize-Guatemala border dispute and a different Belize 
position within CARICOM.  End Comment. 
 
¶14. (U) Ambassador Maisto has cleared this cable. 
GILROY