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