FINLAND: VIEWS ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

UNCLAS HELSINKI 001216

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR IO, EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL FI UNHRC
SUBJECT: FINLAND: VIEWS ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 204646


1. (SBU) Finland shares USG concerns about possible
no-action motions on important Third Committee resolutions.
Johanna Suurpaa, MFA Director for Human Rights, told Poloff
that the GoF was increasingly pessimistic about the
Uzbekistan and Burma resolutions. The Burmese regime has
been emboldened by the slew of no-action motions this year
and is pushing Asian countries to support a similar motion.
At the least, even if a no-action motion is defeated, the
Burmese resolution might not be a consensus resolution as it
has been in the past. Suurpaa said that the situation may be
better for the Iran and Turkmenistan resolutions given last
year's healthy passage margins, but the vote will still be
close. Finland is playing a leading role in lobbying hard
against no-action motions, but has less proactive support
than it would like. Suurpaa said that the GoF was encouraged
by U.S. lobbying efforts and hopes such efforts continue
right up until votes are taken. The successful passage of
the North Korea resolution validated this approach.
HYATT