CANADA COSPONSORS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 003230

SIPDIS

IO/UNP - HOTZ; WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2005
TAGS: PREL CA IS UNGA
SUBJECT: CANADA COSPONSORS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE RESOLUTION
AT UNGA

REF: SECSTATE 188927

Classified By: POL M/C Brian Flora. Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (U) As requested in reftel, poloff met with officials from
Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) on October 28 to discuss
Canada's co-sponsorship of the Holocaust Remembrance
resolution. Canadian participants included Ann Flanagan
Whalen, Deputy Director of the Middle East Division, Wendy
Drukier, Deputy Director of the United Nations and
Commonwealth Affairs Division.


2. (C) Flanagan Whalen stated that GoC co-sponsorship stems
from its belief that the resolution provides an appropriate
way of commemorating the Holocaust. She agreed that there
should be no amendments or changes in resolution's wording.
It plans to issue a joint statement next week with Australia
and New Zealand to this effect in the hope of encouraging
other member states to support the resolution. (Poloff has
requested an advance copy and will forward if/when it is
received). The GoC believes that there are 91 co-sponsors at
the present time, although it will be an "uphill battle,"
particularly with the African countries like South Africa who
have indicated their objection to singling out one particular
genocide. Flanagan Whalen said that Iranian President
Ahmadinejad's recent remarks about Israel's destruction could
play well for influencing moderate Arab countries like
Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan to support the resolution in spite
of those countries' reluctance in issuing official
condemnation of the remarks.


3. (U) Flanagan Whalen confirmed that the the resolution is
to be actioned on October 31.








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