LESOTHO: BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTION DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS MASERU 000567 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL BO LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTION DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: (A) STATE 187018 (B) MASERU 561 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador reviewed (ref A) talking points on the Belarus Anti-U.S. Resolution with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Sekatle (Minister of Local Government) on November 15. We discussed the continuing problems of human rights in Belarus and that it was essential that member states support the 3rd Committee country-specific resolution on Belarus (ref B). We advised the Minister that Lesotho, as a supporter of human rights, could be counted on, we hope, to vote no on the resolution proposed by Belarus. ¶2. (SBU) The Acting Minister stated that she understood that Lesotho had been supportive on issues of human rights and that she would be consulting with the Foreign Minister (who is traveling) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Therefore, she did not give a definitive answer. However, this is not unusual given that the Foreign Minister himself is out of the country. We emphasized the importance of a prompt response since the vote could take place as early as November 16 or in the very near future. PERRY