Cablegate: Brazil Responds to Nam Ministerial Demarche Noting Distrust

VZCZCXRO7673
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #1252 1731542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221542Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5850
INFO RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 2330
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 7254
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 5008
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0149

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001252

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO BFRIEDMAN AND BPOPP WHA/BSC, LWEISS WHA/PPC

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA UNGA BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL RESPONDS TO NAM MINISTERIAL DEMARCHE NOTING DISTRUST
OF REFORM INITIATIVE AMONG THE G-77

REF: STATE 83898

1. Poloff delivered Reftel's talking points, June 21, to Bruno Brant
of the MFA's Division for UN Affairs. In a revealing conversation
about a prevailing mood of "distrust" within the UN, Brant noted
that the GoB tends to be one of the moderating influences among the
G-77, but that hard-line USG and EU positions have made it difficult
for Brazil to be a tempering influence. In regard to Resolution
60/260 Brant averred that Brazil had tried to breach differences and
had actually been very close to a deal with EU members. The GoB
believes that there is very little that separates the developed
nations from the rest but that a spirit of "political distrust" has
invaded the UN, and this stems from the spending cap.

2. Brant claimed that there is a perception of blackmail among some
members of the G-77, as reform is being "held hostage" to the budget
measures. This impression, he reiterated, makes it difficult to
moderate radical elements of the developing country block. In a
succinct evaluation of the situation Brant noted there are two
elements vying in the UN, the power of the purse and the power of
the vote.

3. Addressing the reform measures highlighted in the talking points,
Brant said he believes that there is a general consensus that the
proposed package is very positive. The GoB had few if any arguments
with the purported reforms and believes that consensus would be
easily achieved; if, of course, the U.S. and EU were willing to
separate the two issues (Reform and the Budget). When pressed as to
whether the GoB would again vote with the G-77 in a deadlock, Brant
demurred and said that he did not know the answer to that question.
He believed, however, that the ball is in the U.S. court and that
confidence building measures would help to avert a crisis. In
closing, Brant was upbeat stating that there is a strong desire and
willingness to discuss reform, and that consensus was imminently
possible.

CHICOLA

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