COTE D'IVOIRE: DEMARCHE ON COUNTRY SPECIFIC HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABIDJAN 001258 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UNHCR IV UNGA SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: DEMARCHE ON COUNTRY SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS REF: A. A) SECSTATE 184178 ¶B. B) SECSTATE 182267 Classified By: DepPolEconCouns EMassinga, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On November 8, Econ Chief delivered relevant talking points from reftels to Ambassador Bernard TANOH BOUTCHOUE, Director of the Office of United Nations and Specialized Institutions Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶2. (C) Speaking frankly, and drawing upon his eight years of experience at Cote d'Ivoire's Permanent Mission to the UN in NY and in his current assignment, TANOH said that Cote d'Ivoire views the issue of human rights through the lens of being a NAM country. NAM countries, according to TANOH, tend to view the use of human rights by Western powers as a political tool, and those same Western powers are reluctant to view their own actions in such a critical light. Readily conceding the fact that the human rights records of the five countries targeted by the U.S in reftels for gross human rights violations are egregious, Cote d'Ivoire is nevertheless hesitant to break from the NAM diplomatic framework. ¶3. (C) Elaborating, TANOH remarked that Cote d'Ivoire depended on its NAM brethren in the recent UNSC debate over the future of the U.N.'s Ivorian engagement, and is not in a good position to turn around and condemn others. TANOH cited the example of Cote d'Ivoire's support for Iran's right to enrich uranium in the context of the Havana NAM meeting earlier this year to underscore the importance Abdjan places on NAM solidarity. The MFA will, hoever, present the U.S. position to its PermRep inNY and consult with senior government officials oncerning the possibility of either voting with the U.S. or abstaining on votes contrary to U.S. interests. Hooks