US embassy cable - 05MASERU355

UNCLAS MASERU 000355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, LT, UNSC 
SUBJECT: G-4 FRAMEWORK DEMARCHE DELIVERED 
 
REF: STATE 126870 
 
1.  (SBU) Government of Lesotho Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Moleleki assured Ambassador during July 11 meeting that his 
government concurred with the U.S. on the G-4 Framework 
Resolution.  He was open to the idea of deferring UN discussion 
of this resolution until a later date.  The Minister of Foreign 
Affairs stated that it was unclear to the GOL why there was a 
2005 time frame for UN Reforms.  We responded that we considered 
the UN Reforms essential and that they needed to be dealt with 
as soon as possible.  We did not want discussion of a Security 
Council framework resolution to postpone discussion of the 
reforms.  Moleleki responded that the GOL does support the 
reform agenda and added that during the African Union Summit, 
the timeframe for reforms had been raised.  According to his 
account, South African Foreign Minister Zuma said that since 
Secretary General Annan "would be leaving in 2005," it was 
 
SIPDIS 
necessary to pursue the reforms rapidly. 
 
2.  (SBU) Comment:  While the GOL does support eventual council 
enlargement and also supports the U.S. position on the G-4, the 
Foreign Minister did signal his government's concern about the 
veto power of the Perm-5 and suggested that the Security Council 
adopt a more consensus approach to matters.  We spent some time 
discussing the historic development of the Perm-5 and also 
referenced the difficulty of achieving full consensus at all 
times.  In the end, the Minister reiterated the GOL's 
concurrence with the U.S. position on the G-4 Framework 
Resolution.  End Comment. 
 
PERRY