VZCZCXYZ0022
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #1370/01 1921916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111916Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3190

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001370 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/CAR FOR RCOLLINS, KMCISAAC 
WHA/PPC FOR RYONEOKA 
IO/UNP FOR BHARRIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PBTS UNSC CARICOM JM
SUBJECT: GOJ LETTER TO SEC STATE RICE RE UNSC SEAT 
 
¶1.  On July 11, Embassy received a letter dated July 10, 2006 from 
¶G. Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of 
the Government of Jamaica (GOJ), to Dr. Condoleeza Rice, Secretary 
of State of the United States of America. 
 
¶2.  Text of GOJ Letter: 
 
Begin Text: 
 
Dear Dr. Rice, 
 
 Thank you for your letter of friendship towards the Jamaican people 
and the hand of friendship you have extended to me personally.  I 
warmly embrace the gesture and apologize for the delayed response. 
 
 I take this opportunity to again invite you to visit Jamaica in 
your official capacity, of (sic) for some much needed rest and 
relaxation.  Your choice of vacation locations in Jamaica are many 
and I will happy to assist in identifying the appropriate "cool 
spot". 
 
 Turning to matters of state, I should like to indicate to you that 
my attendance at the just concluded CARICOM Heads of Government 
Conference in St. Kitts and Nevis afforded me the opportunity to 
participate directly in discussions concerning, inter alia, the 
non-permanent seat for Latin America and the Caribbean on the 
Security Council.  I can assure you that the Heads, in their long 
and arduous discussions, took the concerns of your Government fully 
into consideration before reaching their consensus position against 
supporting Guatemala. 
 
 Important to that decision was the longstanding border dispute 
between Guatemala and Belize, a Member State of CARICOM.  The 
situation is considered to be a volatile one with the increased 
possibility for escalation, involving possible armed conflict, 
considering the likelihood of a significant find of hydrocarbon 
resources by entities acting on Belize's behalf in disputed areas. 
The heightened possibility for armed conflict is considered to be 
incompatible with the status being sought by Guatemala on the 
Security Council, and raises the likelihood of a real or apparent 
conflict of interest. 
 
 A second but important consideration was Guatemala's role in the 
Banana case against the European Union regime in favour of African, 
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) banana producers in the WTO which 
resulted in the loss of preferential market for Caribbean bananas, 
and the resultant increased pressures and instability in the 
economies of supplier states in the Caribbean, including Jamaica. 
The Heads viewed the Banana case as merely symptomatic of a more 
fundamental difference existing in the WTO and FTAA between 
Caribbean and Central American countries regarding the appropriate 
treatment to be given to Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), 
including within the DOHA Development Round negotiations. 
 
 Finally, but even more important, is the continuing concern by 
CARICOM Heads regarding the lack of a democratic tradition in 
Guatemala and the historic role played by its military in the 
running of that country, as well as the cases of human rights abuses 
pulicised throughout the Caribbean and in Jamaica. 
 
 Let me hasten to add, however, that the consensus position on 
Guatemala does not translate into a ringing endorsement of 
Venezuela, particularly its foreign policy regarding Iran and North 
Korea.  Jamaica and CARICOM are steadfast in our opposition to 
nuclear proliferation and strong in their position regarding the 
need for nuclear disarmament.  Jamaica's stance on this issue was 
articulated at the Malaysia Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned 
Movement (NAM) in May this year.  We will have an opportunity to 
communicate this and other concerns that we have directly to 
President Chavez when he visits Jamaica later this month to conclude 
certain commercial arrangements. 
 
 Additionally, CARICOM Heads of Government unanimously endorsed: 
a) the planned Conference on the Caribbean to be held in Washington, 
D.C., June 2007; 
b) the start of exploratory talks between the US and CARICOM 
concerning a possible FTA; and 
c) the resumption of US/CARICOM discussions within the framework of 
the Trade and Investment Council (TIC). 
 
 I am writing to you hours before my departure to Brazil with my 
Prime Minister to conduct bilateral discussions including the role 
for the Brazilian Private Sector in the transformation of the 
Jamaican Sugar Industry, as well as to participate in a Conference 
on the African Diaspora.  I will be having discussions with our 
mutual friend and counterpart, Celso Amorim on a range of foreign 
and trade policy issues, including Haiti. 
 Madame Secretary, please be assured of Jamaica's continuing 
friendship with the United States of America and I look forward to 
working with you in further enhancing this already solid 
relationship. 
 
 Best Wishes. 
 
    Yours Sincerely, 
 
 
    ¶G. Anthony Hylton 
    Minister 
 
 
End Text. 
 
 
 
JOHNSON