FRENCH LOBBYING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT UN HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS PARIS 009025 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL FR EUN SUBJECT: FRENCH LOBBYING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT UN HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS IN PLENARY REF: STATE 266582 ¶1. (U) As per reftel, Poloff spoke to MFA DAS-equivalent for Human Rights in the Directorate of United Nations and International Organizations Affairs Beatrice le Fraper du Hellen about the need to lobby third countries against supporting any "no action motions" that might be brought by Iran or Turkmenistan. Ms. Fraper du Hellen indicated that France was actively working to fight against efforts to undermine draft UN resolutions critical of human rights practices, and that the GOF had spoken to a number of countries about opposing possible no action motions and in support of the resolutions on Sudan and Zimbabwe. ¶2. (U) According to Ms. Fraper du Hellen, the GOF had asked the following countries to vote in line with US/EU positions or, at worst, abstain: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Central African Republic, Comoros, Djibouti, Equitorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Laos, Moldova, Niger, Tajikistan, Togo. Ms. Fraper du Hellen indicated that most countries indicated that they "took note" or would "consider" GOF requests. Armenia indicated it hesitated voting against Iran because of an upcoming visit by the Armenian President to Tehran. Niger said it would vote in line with the Islamic States -- in favor of Iran. However, Fraper du Hellen seemed encouraged that efforts to switch third country votes would fail to garner enough support to pass motions of no action. Wolff NNNN