CLONING DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DJIBOUTI GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000657

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL TBIO DJ UNGA KSCI
SUBJECT: CLONING DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DJIBOUTI GOVERNMENT

REF: SECSTATE 96710


1. (U) Ambassador delivered to Minister of Cooperation,
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on 3 May, the demarche requested
reftel on the UN resolution for negotiation of a
convention that would ban all cloning of human embryos.
Ambassador explained to Youssouf that in 2003 the Sixth
Committee of the UN considered a resolution put forward
by Costa Rica for a comprehensive ban on human cloning,
as well as a resolution proposed by Belgium for a
partial ban. The Committee had tabled the discussion
until 2004.


2. (U) She told Youssouf that Costa Rica has once again
submitted their resolution for consideration. The Costa
Rican resolution is already being co-sponsored by the
U.S. and 33 other nations. Ambassador asked for
Djibouti's co-sponsorship of the 2004 Costa Rican
resolution.


3. (U) Youssouf did not indicate if Djibouti would
co-sponsor, but said his government would support the
Costa Rican resolution for one reason only: cloning is
morally against the laws of Islam. He continued that
this position has also been advocated by Al-Azhar in
Egypt, which states that cloning is against the Islamic
religion. Youssouf sad he expected that this would also
be the Arab League position.
RAGSDALE