CHR-61 CUBA AND BELARUS RESOLUTIONS: GOE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002893

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM EG PDEM CHR
SUBJECT: CHR-61 CUBA AND BELARUS RESOLUTIONS: GOE
NON-COMMITTAL ON ITS VOTING PLANS

REF: A. STATE 42847 (NOTAL)

B. STATE 44494 (NOTAL)

C. STATE 63981 (NOTAL)

Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Responding to Ref B demarche request on the UNCHR-61
Belarus resolution, Post coordinated with the Dutch Embassy
(representing the current EU President Luxembourg in Egypt)
on our request for GOE support ahead of the expected April 14
vote. According to MFA Office of Human Rights Affairs
Director Ihab Gamaleddine, the GOE was well aware of the USG
and European position on the resolution but that a decision
had not yet been made by the Foreign Minister on voting
instructions.


2. (C) Drawing from reftel demarches, ECPO MinCouns and
Poloff made numerous calls to senior staff within the MFA to
press for Egyptian support on our Cuba resolution. Neither
senior staff within the multilateral division nor on the
Minister's personal staff were able to share with us a
definitive GOE position, suggesting that the decision had not
yet been taken by the Minister. As of mid-afternoon April
14, instructions had yet to be forwarded to the Egyptian
mission in Geneva, they asserted. We understand from one
Cabinet staff member that the Egyptian mission in Washington
had reported the content of the April 13 meeting between
Assistant Secretary Welch and Ambassador Fahmy in which A/S
Welch pressed for Egypt's support on the resolutions.
Despite our interventions, post believes Egypt is unlikely to
join us against Arab and Africian group majority positions on
either of the two resolutions.


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GRAY