LESOTHO'S POSITION RE: IRAN'S CANDIDACY FOR UNHRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000218 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/8/2010 TAGS: KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO'S POSITION RE: IRAN'S CANDIDACY FOR UNHRC REF: A) STATE 072724 B) MASERU 0212 C) STATE 68575 CLASSIFIED BY: Karl P. Albrecht, Deputy Chief of Mission, EXEC, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) After follow-ups by the DCM, Acting MFA Principal Secretary Thabang Lekhela contacted post late Friday afternoon SIPDIS regarding Lesotho's position on Iran's candidacy for the UNHR Council. Lekhela reiterated the information in Ref B, i.e., that the GOL would not support Iran for a seat on the Council. Instructions to that effect were being transmitted on Friday to the Lesotho's UN representative in New York. 2 (C) Lekhela added that Lesotho would not pursue a seat on the Council at this time (contrary to MFA Moleleki's statements to the Ambassador, based on his discussions with the Prime Minister),as other countries from Africa had stated their interest and were already seeking the African group's support. The PS had no update on a Community of Democracies Statement re: Iran's candidacy or if Lesotho would join such an effort. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: Although post cannot know for sure, our educated guess is that one of the larger African countries, possibly Nigeria or South Africa, could well have approached Lesotho regarding its possible candidacy. PERRY