US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO4496

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 004496 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/UNDP:R BEHREND AND FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/CCA; USUN 
FOR AMBASSADORS SIV AND GODARD AND ALEC MALLY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2015 
TAGS: CU, DR, PREL, PHUM 
SUBJECT: CHALLENGING CUBA'S CANDIDACY ON ECOSOC - DOMINICAN 
REPUBLIC 
 
REF: STATE 177073 
 
Classified By: Charge d'affaires Lisa Kubiske for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador delivered demarche para 4 reftel to Foreign 
Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso on September 28, urging the 
Dominican Republic to become a candidate for election to 
ECOSOC in October.  Morales said that the Dominican Republic 
has registered to run for ECOSOC membership in 2007.  This 
occurred subsequent to Ambassador's conversation with 
President Fernandez on September 11, in which Fernandez 
mentioned his desire that the Dominican Republic become a 
candidate.  Morales said that Fernandez had not been 
referring to a 2006 candidacy and said it had been the 
Dominican Republic's intention all along to run in 2007. 
Morales had been told by Dominican UN PermRep Erasmo 
Lara-Pena that it would look "ridiculous" to register at this 
late date for the election in October. 
 
2. (C) In a follow-up phone call, the Ambassador urged 
Morales to keep an open mind about running for 2006 and 
informed him that USUN was making a similar diplomatic effort 
with the Dominican UN Mission in New York.  He reinforced the 
following points: 
 
-- There are no obstacles to the Dominican Republic 
registering a "late" candidacy for the October vote; 
 
-- The Dominican Republic could contribute to ECOSOC as a 
stable democracy committed to respect for human rights; 
 
-- The country would be a viable candidate with good 
prospects for attracting support from other democratic member 
states; 
 
-- As an ECOSOC member, the country would be in a position to 
trade votes and improve its prospects for re-election to the 
UN Human Rights Commission next April; and 
 
-- By registering, the Dominicans could help democratic 
member states oppose the Cubans' attempt to win an 
unprecedented fourth term on ECOSOC. 
 
3. (C) Morales was noncommittal, but said he might call back 
with more.  Embassy will report any new development. 
KUBISKE