EU WILL NOT TABLE AN IRAN RESOLUTION AT THE UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004186

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR DRL, IO AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL IR EU IT UNHRC EUN
SUBJECT: EU WILL NOT TABLE AN IRAN RESOLUTION AT THE UNGA
THIRD COMMITTEE.

REF: A. BRUSSELS 3713

B. STATE 206381

C. STATE 247988

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING POL M/C J. BASS, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) ON SEPTEMBER 11, POLOFFS MET WITH MFA GULF COUNTRIES
OFFICE DIRECTOR, LUIGI MACCOTTA, TO CONSULT ON THE UNGA THIRD
COMMITTEE IRAN RESOLUTION (REF C). POLOFF ALSO LEFT POINTS
WITH THE MFA'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE, WHOSE OFFICIALS WERE
UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT. MACCOTTA STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE EU
IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORSENING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN
IRAN, IT DOES NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE FUTURE DIALOGUE WITH
IRAN AND THEREFORE DOES NOT FAVOR A RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME.


2. (C) MACCOTTA SAID THE EU BELIEVES IN THE NEED TO PRESERVE
A DIALOGUE IN ORDER TO DELIVER A "MESSAGE OF CRITICISM" AND
STATED THAT TABLING A RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME WOULD BE
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE SINCE IT WOULD "CONDEMN" AND "ISOLATE"
IRAN. HE EXPRESSED ITALY'S SUPPORT OF THE EU VIEW,
REITERATING THE GOI'S PREFERENCE TO USE A CARROT RATHER THAN
A STICK APPROACH WITH IRAN.


3. (C) MACCOTTA CONFIRMED THE RECENT DECISION TO POSTPONE THE
EU-IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE, SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15-16,
DUE TO IRAN'S OBJECTION TO THE PRESENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. HE STATED THAT THE
DIALOGUE HAS NOT BEEN RESCHEDULED AND REFERRED TO THIS PERIOD
AS A "SHORT-TERM PAUSE FOR REFLECTION."
SEMBLER

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2003ROME04186 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL