UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS: NEW ZEALAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000950

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/UNP; DRL/PHD; EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2014
TAGS: PHUM NZ UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS: NEW ZEALAND
RESPONSE

REF: A. SECSTATE 243112

B. STATE 36869

Classified By: POLITICAL/ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KATHERINE HADDA,
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) On November 12, POL/ECON Couns discussed Reftel B
resolutions with Val Meyer, Deputy Director of the Human
Rights Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MFAT). Meyer was joined by Tamsin Royson, MFAT's policy
officer for Africa.


2. (C) Meyer said that New Zealand would likely co-sponsor
resolutions on Iran, Sudan, Burma, and Zimbabwe, as long as
the wording of the resolutions were not weakened
unacceptably. New Zealand would also probably vote in favor
-- but not co-sponsor -- resolutions against the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DROC),Turkmenistan, and Belarus if
the wording on these remained meaningful.


3. (C) Meyer said that New Zealand's small delegation in New
York can only process so much information and therefore has
to focus on what it or the GONZ knows. Pol/Econ Counselor
asked whether it would be helpful for GONZ to receive earlier
any supporting information on possible resolutions. Meyer
said not really, as in general New Zealand will only
co-sponsor resolutions when it has traditional ties with
and/or diplomatic representation in the countries involved.
Otherwise, New Zealand believes it is in no position to add
anything in negotiations on the wording of such resolutions,
she said. The only other times in which New Zealand might
co-sponsor a resolution is if the problems in the country
involved were known by -- and of concern to -- the general
New Zealand public. This is why New Zealand did not
co-sponsor the Belarus resolution, for example. Meyer said
even if it does not co-sponsor, New Zealand will generally
vote for Human Rights resolutions if the principle sponsors
do not weaken the language "to blandness."


4. (C) Pol/Econ Counselor asked whether New Zealand has
supported human rights resolutions against China. Meyer said
she could not recall, but added that New Zealand talks
regularly with the PRC about Human Rights and does raise
specific cases with Chinese officials. GONZ officials make
similar approaches to Iran, she said.
Swindells