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