HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTION DEMARCHES

UNCLAS ANKARA 006318 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL TU SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTION DEMARCHES REF: A. STATE 236869 ¶B. STATE 237932 ¶1. (U) On November 8 we presented reftel A and B demarches to individual MFA departments for each country mentioned: ¶A. We presented Belarus points to Deputy Director General for Eastern Europe Solendil, who confirmed the Turkish UN delegation had already been instructed to vote positively with the U.S. and EU position. ¶B. We presented Turkmenistan points to Deputy Director General for Central Asia and the Caucasus Tezgor, who said the MFA has not made a final decision. We note it should not be a surprise to the U.S. delegation if Turkey choses to abstain on this vote. ¶C. We presented Sudan points to Deputy Director General for Africa and Eastern Asia Isik, who said Turkey needs additional time to consider its position. ¶D. We also presented the Zimbabwe points to Deputy Director Isik and department head Etem confirmed that Turkey is a co-sponsor of this resolution. ¶E. We presented Iran points to Deputy Director General for South Asia Evirgen, who indicated the MFA was still considering its position to this demarche and a similar one from the Canadians. We note that historically Turkey does not vote against Iran in international fora; and ¶F. We presented Burma points to Deputy Director General for Africa and Eastern Asia Isik, whose head of section Etem confirmed Turkey was also a co-sponsor on this issue. ¶2. MFA Iran interlocutor Evirgen and Turkmenistan interlocutor Emre both commented that last year Turkey did not participate in voting related to Iran and Turkmenistan. EDELMAN