UN REFORM: TANZANIA'S PERSPECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000145 SIPDIS DEPT AF/E FOR B YODER, AF/RSA J NAY DEPT ALSO FOR IO/UNP ADDIS FOR AU WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016 TAGS: PGOV KUNR PREL PHUM TZ SUBJECT: UN REFORM: TANZANIA'S PERSPECTIVE REF: A. STATE 04745 ¶B. STATE 04746 Classified By: Political Officer Maureen B. Latour for reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 23, Charge d'Affaires delivered reftel demarche to Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Acting Permanent Secretary of Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mulamula identified mandate reform as an important issue but noted that members of the UN First Committee disagree which mandates are obsolete. Mulamula voiced the Government of Tanzania's (GOT) support for establishing the Human Rights Commission(HRC),but noted several areas of contention, including the number of members and the method of raising issues. Mulamula also commented that the GOT is continuing to work with both East Africa and Southern Africa peacekeeping brigades and thanked the USG for its support of the Great Lakes resolution. END SUMMARY Human Rights Council -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Mulamula said that for the Africa Group "it is not a question of whether, but how" to create the HRC and that the Africa Group is ready to discuss the matter. Mulamula said human rights violations must be investigated as a matter of principle, no matter where they occur, and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights is the proper standard and should not be put aside in favor of one's own criteria or consideration of friendships. Mulamula made several references to the work done by Tanzania as co-chair for the Peacebuilding Commission committee and commented that with that task completed, the GOT has more time to devote to the HRC. ¶3. (C) On the issue of country-specific resolutions, Ambassador Mulamula said it is important for issues to be brought before the HRC through the Secretary-General and not by individual member states who may be biased due to their relations with specific nations. Mulamula added that individual states bringing issues to the Commission on Human Rights made that body politicized and,therefore, unworkable. Regarding the composition of the HRC, Mulamula said she thought there had been a consensus toward a higher number of members and that 22 is too few for equitable geographic representation. Mulamula characterized the mechanisms for member selection and decision-making as "another divisive issue," and said there were valid arguments on both sides. She added that the GOT is agreeable to the principle of an effective council and does not have a problem with a 2/3 majority for member selection and decision-making. Mulamula emphasized that the HRC should have its own area and not refer matters to the Security Council. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Mulamula said it was "unfortunate" that the summit did not set a timeframe for the establishment of the HRC, noting that leaving it to the full 60th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session may mean the HRC is not established until 2007. She noted that the UNGA president was working on the text which should give it greater attention and, perhaps, priority. ¶5. (U) Mulamula thanked the USG for being very forthcoming in its support of the Great Lakes resolution. Mulamula said the goal is sustainable peace and that the resolution addresses the causes of conflict. Peacekeeping -------------- ¶6. (C) Regarding Tanzania's role in peacekeeping, Mulamula said the GOT is pursuing participation in both the East African and South African stand-by brigades. Mulamula said the Ministry of Defense has completed assessments regarding Tanzania's bilateral and regional roles. DELLY