AZERBAIJAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UNGA HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001580 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNGA LE IS AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS/LEBANON RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 176793 Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on October 30 to Marat Kengerlinsky, MFA Division Chief for Human Rights and Democratization and to Fikraddin Ismayilov, Special Assistant to Deputy Foreign Minister for Human Rights and Democratization Mammadguliyev. Kengerlinsky acknowledged USG concern that the Cuba-sponsored UNGA resolutions criticizing Israel were imbalanced and unwarranted. He further agreed that traditionally apolitical UN bodies were becoming increasingly politicized, which was harmful, as in the Lebanese case, to "women and children who suffer the consequences." However, Ismayilov said that the GOAJ, in its capacity as the current chairman of the OIC ministerial, was compelled to represent the position of the OIC membership, which supports the UNGA resolutions. Ismayilov reiterated that the GOAJ was the messenger and did not necessarily share the OIC's view but was nonetheless obligated to speak for the OIC in the UNGA. DERSE