INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Nicaraguan Pr Seeks U.S. Support for Nicaragua's

Published: Mon 25 Feb 2008 10:40 PM
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OO RUEHWEB
DE RUCNDT #0177 0562240
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 252240Z FEB 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3801
INFO RUEHMKA/AMEMBASSY MANAMA IMMEDIATE 0083
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000177
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA ICJ CO NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUAN PR SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR NICARAGUA'S
ICJ CASE, CANDIDATE FOR GA PRESIDENCY
1. BEGIN SUMMARY: Nicaraguan PermRep Chamorro told Amb.
Khalilzad on February 25 that Nicaragua welcomes the
International Court of Justice's (ICJ) recent decision that
it has jurisdiction to hear the maritime and territorial
dispute between Nicaragua and Colombia. Asserting that the
ICJ had found that the 82nd parallel is not the maritime
boundary between Colombia and Nicaragua, Chamorro said
Nicaragua would be pleased if the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) and Nicaragua could patrol that area together.
Finally, Chamorro sought to reassure Amb. Khalilzad that
Miguel D'Escoto, if elected to the General Assembly
Presidency next year, would not use the position for partisan
purposes. END SUMMARY.
2. Nicaraguan PR Chamorro, accompanied by Nicaraguan Deputy
PermRep Castillo, met with Amb. Khalilzad at their request
February 25 to discuss the ICJ's December 13 decision in
Nicaragua's maritime and boundary dispute with Colombia.
Nicaragua seeks support from the P-5 and the
Secretary-General in abiding by the ICJ's decision, she said,
SIPDIS
and to that end the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister discussed the
case with the Secretary-General last week. She described the
ICJ's decision as favorable, finding that the ICJ has
jurisdiction to hear the dispute, as Nicaragua had wanted.
Chamorro also said the ICJ had decided that the 82nd line of
longitude is not the border between Colombia and Nicaragua,
as Colombia argues, and stressed Nicaragua's concerns about
drug trafficking around the 82nd parallel. Nicaraguan
President Ortega has advised the Department that Nicaragua
would be "more than willing" if DEA wanted to conduct joint
patrols of the area around the 82nd parallel, she said, and
Nicaragua plans to deliver a paper to the Department on the
case this week.
3. Amb. Khalilzad cautioned that no unilateral decisions
should be taken until the ICJ decides the case on the merits.
4. Chamorro also sought U.S. support for Miguel D'Escoto,
Nicaragua's candidate for President of the General Assembly
(PGA). Amb. Khalilzad stressed that the United States views
the PGA as an important position that should not be used for
partisan purposes or otherwise to score political points,
adding that the General Assembly can only be strengthened in
an atmosphere of cooperation. Chamorro responded that
Nicaragua is aware of U.S. concerns and pledged that
Nicaragua would not seek to use the office for partisan
purposes, particularly to raise its bilateral objectives
vis-a-vis Colombia.
5. Chamorro also welcomed the positive remarks about
President Ortega's record on free trade and democracy that
Under Secretary for Commerce and International Trade Padilla
had made last week.
KHALILZAD
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