VZCZCXRO6129
OO RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1387/01 2121842
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311842Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3655
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 3204
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA PRIORITY 0122
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0954
RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1152
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0994
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0533
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001387 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016 
TAGS: PREL UNSC VZ GT HA
SUBJECT: PREVAL SAYS CARICOM WILL SUPPORT VENEZUELA FOR 
UNSC SEAT 
 
 
PORT AU PR 00001387  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reason 1.4 (b/d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  A/S Shannon used the opportunity of a July 
25 meeting with Haitian President Preval to urge Haiti to 
support Guatemala for the GRULAC UNSC seat.  President Preval 
asserted that CARICOM had adopted a common position in 
support of Venezuela's bid for a UNSC seat.  Shannon noted 
that CARICOM had not publicly endorsed a candidate, but had 
established criteria to guide CARICOM voting.  Preval judged 
that Guyana had softened its opposition to Venezuela, 
clearing the way for a CARICOM consensus.  Shannon explained 
that Guatemala, a small state that plays a constructive role 
in the international community, represents a more qualified 
candidate than Venezuela, which has demonstrated it is a 
disruptive force in international institutions.  He urged 
Preval to consider Haiti's position carefully and to support 
Guatemala.  Preval made no commitments, and lamented that 
"this is a fight between big boys" that Haiti would prefer to 
avoid.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) At the end of a wide-ranging meeting on other topics 
July 25 (septel), WHA A/S Shannon asked President Preval for 
Haiti's position on the open GRULAC seat on the Security 
Council.  Clearly uncomfortable, Preval abruptly changed the 
topic for several minutes before finally asserting that 
CARICOM had decided on a common position in support of 
Venezuela. 
 
¶3.  (C) A/S Shannon recalled that CARICOM had not taken a 
formal position on the UNSC race, but rather set criteria for 
its decision.  Preval insisted that there is a consensus, 
although he described it as one of "very reserved support for 
Venezuela."  He said that Belize continued to object to 
Guatemala because of their border dispute, while Guyana had 
now softened its opposition to Venezuela.  Preval said that 
Guatemala's position on banana exports also had been an 
important factor in CARICOM's decision to back Venezuela. 
Preval quipped that CARICOM's position "had nothing to do 
with Petrocaribe," and laughed. 
 
¶4.  (C) Shannon pointed out that it is unfortunate that a 
decision on UNSC representation that should be made within 
the GRULAC will instead be made by the entire General 
Assembly.  The U.S. thought that Guatemala had been 
well-positioned to win support.  It is a small country in a 
region in which such countries have had few opportunities to 
serve on the UNSC.  It has extensive experience with the UN 
through its own peace process and collaboration on economic 
development.  Guatemala also hosts a peacekeeping training 
center and has contributed to PKOs worldwide, recently losing 
eight peacekeepers 
in Congo.  Guatemala has a record of commitment to the UN, to 
democracy, and to human rights.  In contrast, Venezuela 
offers none of this.  Instead, it tries to use international 
institutions to advance its own narrow agenda. 
 
¶5.  (C) Preval joked awkwardly that Venezuelan President Hugo 
Chavez is the "best friend" of the United States because he 
has frightened voters in democracies elsewhere in the 
Americas to reject populist candidates.  Shannon explained 
that Guatemala had the support of the North and Central 
American countries and the Andes, while Venezuela had the 
South American countries, with the Caribbean perhaps split. 
As a result, the rest of the world would effectively choose 
this hemisphere's representative on the Council.  Shannon 
sketched a scenario in which votes for the UNSC seat will 
split the world into two broad camps:  democracies in Europe, 
Asia, and Africa backing Guatemala, while tyrannies in Asia, 
Africa, and the Middle East support Venezuela.  Shannon 
underscored that the UNGA vote will be by secret ballot.  He 
said that CARICOM countries should vote independently and 
urged that Haiti carefully consider its position and support 
Guatemala. 
 
¶6.  (C) Preval made no commitment.  He lamented that "this is 
a fight between big boys" that Haiti would prefer to avoid. 
His principal advisor, Bob Manuel, took careful notes 
throughout the discussion, particularly as Shannon presented 
the arguments in favor of a vote for Guatemala. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Comment:  Preval will try to avoid breaking what he 
believes is a CARICOM consensus in favor of Venezuela, when 
Haiti only returned to full member status in the organization 
earlier in the month after a two-year gap.  He also realizes 
 
PORT AU PR 00001387  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
that his most important donors have lined up in support of 
Guatemala's candidacy.  We will continue to encourage Preval 
to weigh the importance of this vote for the good order of 
the UNSC and the UN Mission deployed in Haiti.  Given his 
inherent caution, we expect that he will pursue what he 
perceives the safest course -- probably an abstention. 
 
¶8. (U)  A/S Shannon cleared on this message. 
SANDERSON