Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO2054
2006-12-13 02:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
HRC: SRI LANKA WILL NOT SUPPORT EXPERT MISSION TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #2054 3470228 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 130228Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4902 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1573 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0510
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 002054
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DRL AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PHUM KTIA PREL SU UN CE
SUBJECT: HRC: SRI LANKA WILL NOT SUPPORT EXPERT MISSION TO
SUDAN
REF: COLOMBO 2045
Classified By: DCM JAMES R. MOORE, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 002054
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DRL AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PHUM KTIA PREL SU UN CE
SUBJECT: HRC: SRI LANKA WILL NOT SUPPORT EXPERT MISSION TO
SUDAN
REF: COLOMBO 2045
Classified By: DCM JAMES R. MOORE, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Further to reftel, Pol chief followed up with MFA
Multilateral Section Deputy Director Gunesekera on December
12. Gunesekera affirmed Sri Lanka was disposed to support
the Finnish draft. However, she said that, according to her
information, there was still no consensus in Geneva on the
draft resolution's third paragraph concerning the composition
of the proposed UN Mission. She said that if it comes to an
up or down vote on the language in that paragraph, Sri Lanka
will "have to vote in its national interest." Later,
Australian DCM reported to us that MFA Acting Secretary
Geetha de Silva told him Sri Lanka would support "the African
and Asian group amendments" introduced the previous day.
2. (C) COMMENT: Gunesekera's reference to the Sri Lankan
"national interest" means the GSL's priority is to ward off a
likely EU-sponsored country-specific resolution on Sri Lanka
in the spring session of HRC. Human Rights Minister
Samarasinghe has made it clear that the GSL would not welcome
a mandate for a UN monitoring or investigative mission on
human rights for Sri Lanka. While Gunesekara's observation
was couched in oblique language, the intent was clear that we
also cannot count on Sri Lankan support for a robust expert
mission to Sudan.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DRL AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PHUM KTIA PREL SU UN CE
SUBJECT: HRC: SRI LANKA WILL NOT SUPPORT EXPERT MISSION TO
SUDAN
REF: COLOMBO 2045
Classified By: DCM JAMES R. MOORE, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Further to reftel, Pol chief followed up with MFA
Multilateral Section Deputy Director Gunesekera on December
12. Gunesekera affirmed Sri Lanka was disposed to support
the Finnish draft. However, she said that, according to her
information, there was still no consensus in Geneva on the
draft resolution's third paragraph concerning the composition
of the proposed UN Mission. She said that if it comes to an
up or down vote on the language in that paragraph, Sri Lanka
will "have to vote in its national interest." Later,
Australian DCM reported to us that MFA Acting Secretary
Geetha de Silva told him Sri Lanka would support "the African
and Asian group amendments" introduced the previous day.
2. (C) COMMENT: Gunesekera's reference to the Sri Lankan
"national interest" means the GSL's priority is to ward off a
likely EU-sponsored country-specific resolution on Sri Lanka
in the spring session of HRC. Human Rights Minister
Samarasinghe has made it clear that the GSL would not welcome
a mandate for a UN monitoring or investigative mission on
human rights for Sri Lanka. While Gunesekara's observation
was couched in oblique language, the intent was clear that we
also cannot count on Sri Lankan support for a robust expert
mission to Sudan.
BLAKE