Cablegate: Philippine Government to Support U.S. Candidate

VZCZCXRO6123
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #3771 3310412
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270412Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8984
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2207
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0242

UNCLAS MANILA 003771

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/RHS, EAP/MTS,

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA UN RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDATE
FOR UN COMMITTEE TO END RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

REF: SECSTATE 157655

1. (SBU) Leah Ruiz, Executive Director for the Department of
Foreign Affairs' Office of United Nations and International
Organizations, told poloff that the Philippine Mission to the
United Nations intends to support the candidacy of Mr.
Pierre-Richard Prosper for the UN Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) (reftel). Ruiz
said that the Philippine government was exploring quid pro
quo arrangements in exchange for its votes on the nine
available CERD seats. However, Ruiz said she was aware that
the U.S. does not engage in vote trading and would recommend
that the Philippines unilaterally offer its support for Mr.
Prosper's candidacy. Ruiz also expressed the hope that the
U.S. would support Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, the
Philippines' candidate to the International Court of Justice.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/
KENNEY

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