EU opposed SADC nomination of Francis Nhema

The European Union opposed the Southern African Development Community’s nomination of Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister Francis Nhema to chair the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development five years ago.

According to the Netherlands’s head of political and legal UN affairs Peter van der Vliet, the Netherlands was going to do everything to stop the nomination.

Germany had lobbied 30 governments to oppose the nomination. The Netherlands therefore welcomed the cooperation of the United States.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 07THEHAGUE897, NETHERLANDS OPPOSES ZIMBABWE’S BID FOR CSD 16 CHAIR

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VZCZCXRO2677

PP RUEHPA

DE RUEHTC #0897 1311441

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

P 111441Z MAY 07

FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE

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UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000897

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER), IO/EDA (JTUMINARO)

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: SENV EAID UNCSD AORC PREL NL

SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS OPPOSES ZIMBABWE’S BID FOR CSD 16 CHAIR

REF: STATE 58046

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE

ACCORDINGLY.

¶1. (SBU) The GONL supports the EU’s position opposing a

Zimbabwean Chair for the UN Commission on Sustainable

Development (CSD). Econoff delivered reftel points May 3,

and followed up May 10 with Peter van der Vliet, Head of

Political and Legal UN Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs. Van der Vliet told Econoff the EU is doing “all it

can” and that the Germans had demarched 30 capitals promoting

the EU position. So far, van der Vliet said, only Singapore

was willing to “distance itself” from the South Africa

Development Community’s nomination of Zimbabwean Environment

Minister Francis Nhema for CSD Chair.

¶2. (SBU) Van der Vliet said the EU “would not hesitate” to

request a vote and subsequently oppose Zimbabwe. He welcomed

cooperation with the U.S. and possible consultations in New

York. “We are like minded,” he said, adding that the EU and

U.S. should discuss what a possible Zimbabwean Chair would

mean for their participation in CSD 16. Van der Vliet warned

against a boycott of the CSD. He said this precedent would

encourage others to suggest objectionable candidates to

“spoil” progress and participation in the Committee.

ARNALL

(16 VIEWS)