Cablegate: Talking Points On Unga Issues
VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHML #4348 2860903
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130903Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3485
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0179
UNCLAS MANILA 004348
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA RP
SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS ON UNGA ISSUES
REF: STATE 168341
1. (SBU) In a meeting on October 13, Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs for United Nations and International
Organizations Aladin Villacorte expressed appreciation to
Pol/C for reftel positions. (Septel will discuss solid
Philippine support for Guatemala's UNSC candidacy.) He
expressed particular interest in recent developments on North
Korea, which Pol/C described, while praising the strong
statement of Philippine President Arroyo and Foreign
Secretary Romulo, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, against the
SIPDIS
North Korean nuclear test. On Israel/Palestine-Middle East
issues, Villacorte admitted that the Philippine delegation in
New York often followed the OIC. Pol/C underscored that the
USG watched UNGA voting records very carefully and urged that
the GRP delegation never be more than one vote apart from the
U.S. delegation, i.e., whenever possible, abstain rather than
vote against the U.S. delegation. Villacorte promised to
take this advice into consideration.
2. (SBU) Villacorte also noted that Philippine Permanent
Representative to the UN Baja was now apt to remain in place
for the foreseeable future, due to domestic political
opposition to the nomination of retired Supreme Court Chief
Justice Davide as his replacement.
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
KENNEY