THE GAMBIA: VOTING RECORD IN THE 60TH UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000021 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2016 TAGS: ECON PHUM PINR PINS PREL GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: VOTING RECORD IN THE 60TH UNGA REF: 05 USUN NEW YORK 2853 Classified By: Ambassador Joseph Stafford, reason 1.4 (b and d) U.S. AND GAMBIAN VOTING RECORDS -------------- ¶1. (C) Ambassador raised the GOTG's voting record in the 60th UNGA in separate meetings with Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ebou Taal (deputy formin equivalent) and visiting SIPDIS Gambian PermRep Crispin Grey-Johnson. Reviewing the respective U.S. and Gambian voting records on the nine key issues identified in reftel, Ambassador expressed surprise and disappointment that the GOTG had voted against the U.S. on eight of the nine issues. He asserted that the GOTG's voting record was not consistent with the overall positive tenor of our bilateral relationship, noting that only Zimbabwe, with which our relationship was far less positive, had voted against us more often. Ambassador urged that, in future voting, the GOTG, like many of our other African friends, look for ways to abstain or be absent, if unable to vote with us. GAMBIAN RESPONSE -------------- ¶2. (C) PermSec Taal indicated that he was also surprised at the GOTG's wide divergence with the U.S. in UN voting and undertook to raise our demarche with the Formin on latter's return from overseas trip. As for Grey-Johnson, he was predictably defensive, saying the Gambian delegation "was compelled" to vote in accordance with "consensus positions" of the African Group and citing opposition within the Group to country-specific human rights resolutions in particular. He went on to mention pressure on Middle East issues from fellow members of the OIC. Ambassador responded that the other African states faced similar pressures but nonetheless many of them found ways to be helpful on issues of high priority to the U.S. by abstaining or being absent when unable to vote with us. Grey-Johnson indicated that he had gotten the point, saying he would "look at how we can be more supportive" in future UN voting. COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) We are grateful to USUN for providing reftel breakdown of African countries' voting records, as we were able to draw from it to impress upon the Gambians that we notice their votes and that they are a factor in our overall bilateral relationship. In response to our demarches on UN issues, GOTG officials typically give assurances of their intention to be helpful, but our sense is that PermRep Grey-Johnson receives little guidance from Banjul on specific votes. END COMMENT. STAFFORD