MOZAMBIQUE: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON UN REFORM -- THE

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000066 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNP AF/FO AND AF/S FOR HTREGER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KUNR PHUM UNAUS ADCO MZ SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON UN REFORM -- THE WAY FORWARD REF: A. STATE 4746 ¶B. STATE 4745 ¶C. STATE 3842 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador met with acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Henrique Banze on January 17 to discuss UN reform and other issues. Based on talking points in reftels A and B, Ambassador stressed the USG's continued interest in advancing UN reform, particularly reforms to the management structure and the creation of the Human Rights Council. Banze responded positively, indicating that the GRM supported UN reforms, though he cautioned more discussion was still needed. ¶2. (SBU) Banze recognized that UN reform was a difficult topic for many countries, and noted that the GRM would strive to find consensus among its African Union (AU) partners on these and others issues that impacted the region. He said the GRM would push for policies that were "best" for Mozambique, while trying to hold to the AU position. He felt the topic of UN reform likely would be raised at the upcoming AU Summit in Khartoum, but that discussion on the issue would be far less contentious than that surrounding the AU chairmanship (septel). ¶3. (SBU) Earlier in the day poloff discussed UN reform with Faruque Faquira, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Directorate for International Organizations and Conferences (DOIC),in a previously scheduled meeting to deliver ref C talking points. Faquira stated he was pleased with how the reform initiative had progressed to date, but added that more time was needed to discuss some of aspects of the UN reform package. Faquira did not directly respond to our hope that negotiations could be completed by the end of February. However, he expressed hope that the March meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission would provide the forum in which consensus could be reached on the creation and transition to the Human Rights Council. La Lime