MALDIVES WILL CO-SPONSOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001881 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL IS MV UNGA SUBJECT: MALDIVES WILL CO-SPONSOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE RESOLUTION REF: STATE 188927 (SBU) In an October 31 call on the Ambassador in Colombo, Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed said that his government will co-sponsor the Holocaust Remembrance Resolution (Reftel). Shaheed said his government had not responded earlier to the demarche, which was delivered on October 17, because of uncertainty about its ability to develop the education programs on the Holocaust stipulated in the Resolution and because it was waiting to see if other Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) nations would extend support. Because of its conviction that "genocide has no place" in society, however, the Maldivian Government ultimately decided to support the resolution, regardless of what other OIC members do, Shaheed reported. LUNSTEAD