UN DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001556 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN CG SUBJECT: UN DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DEMARCHE DELIVERED IN KINSHASA REF: STATE 169257 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Kinshasa delivered non-papers and talking points regarding proposed UNGA endorsement of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Oscar Matondo, Director for International Organizations at the DRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he agreed with the Tripartite position on the text and expressed concern that the document would give pygmies in northern DRC the right to secede. He asked whether amending the document would suffice but later said more discussion among member states would be needed. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Matondo said he would forward non-papers and Tripartite concerns to the DRC Representative to the UN and instruct him to support the US position. DOUGHERTY