VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #1044 1882002
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 072002Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2852
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0061
RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE 1267
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5414
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3533
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8359
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3384
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4540
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2658
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001044 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR BCOLLINS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016 
TAGS: PREL BF
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS, CARICOM LIKELY TO BACK VENEZUELA FOR UNSC 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent D. Hardt for reasons 1.4 ( 
b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: The Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has 
confirmed that The Bahamas will follow CARICOM's lead on the 
vote for the regional representative to the UNSC.  Reports 
from those present at CARICOM'S Heads of Government meetings 
in St. Kitts indicate that CARICOM will vote as a block for 
Venezuela.  It appears that Venezuela's personal lobbying 
efforts successfully convinced CARICOM, and The Bahamas, to 
support its bid during a closed-session meeting.  The basis 
for the decision is reportedly a combination of Guatemala's 
human rights record, Guatemala's claims on Belize and 
Venezuela's pledge to support CARICOM's international trade 
agenda.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) On June 29, Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Fred 
Mitchell in advance of the CARICOM Heads of Government 
Meeting to discuss regional candidates for the United Nations 
Security Council.  During the meeting, Minister Mitchell said 
that The Bahamas was undecided, but would follow CARICOM's 
lead.  However, Mitchell admitted that Belize's strong 
opposition to Guatemala appeared to be a critical factor for 
The Bahamas and CARICOM.  He said, "we can still be 
convinced, but we need to resolve Belize's concerns if we are 
to get anywhere."  Mitchell, who was clearly leaning towards 
support of Venezuela, did not respond to the Ambassador's 
point that Venezuela also had territorial claims on a CARICOM 
member nation, but promised to provide an update upon his 
return from the CARICOM meetings. 
 
¶3.  (C) On July 7, while discussing a planned trip to The 
Bahamas, the Ambassador spoke with non-resident Spanish 
Ambassador to The Bahamas Jesus Silva.  Silva reported that 
CARICOM had decided to vote as a block in favor of Venezuela. 
 Silva attended the Heads of Government Meeting, where he 
confirmed the decision with Venezuelan representative Roy 
Chaderton-Matos and Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Permanent Secretary Douglas Saunders.  Silva said that 
Chaderton-Matos lobbied for Venezuela in a closed-session 
meeting with the heads of government.  He reported four 
reasons for the decision in favor of Venezuela:  Guatemala's 
human rights record; Guatemala's border dispute with Belize; 
Venezuela's agreement to support CARICOM trade interests at 
the Council, and; Guatemala's disagreement with CARICOM on 
WTO trade issues.  NOTE:  Silva's statements are consistent 
with media reports.  In those reports, Dominica Prime 
Minister Skerritt said CARICOM would vote as a bloc for 
Venezuela, praised Venezuelan trade policies and expressed 
appreciation for Venezuela's willingness to directly lobby 
CARICOM.  END NOTE. 
 
¶4.  (C) Following Silva's statement, Poloff contacted 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Marilyn Zonicle. 
Zoncile said The Bahamas would follow CARICOM'S lead but 
would not confirm an agreement to vote as a block in favor of 
Venezuela.  Instead, she referred Poloff to CARICOM's Final 
Communique, which provides: "In deliberating on the Latin 
America and Caribbean Region's candidacy for the United 
Nations Security Council, Heads of Government indicated that 
any country wishing to be the voice of the Community in this 
critical organ would need to speak to the fundamental values, 
principles, concerns and best interests of the Community.  In 
particular, the Community would wish to be assured that the 
elected member would fully respect the sovereignty and 
territorial integrity of its constituent Member States in the 
discharge of its duties." 
 
¶5.  (C) COMMENT:  The CARICOM statement may leave some room 
for individual countries to support Guatemala, but the 
comments of individual CARICOM countries -- those less 
cautious about US relations than The Bahamas - indicate a 
stronger CARICOM position that does not augur well for 
Guatemala.  The Bahamas appears likely to follow CARICOM's 
lead and support Venezuela for the UNSC.  END COMMENT. 
ROOD