IRAN'S CANDIDACY FOR THE UNHRC

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 002023

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2026
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC PREL KUNR KE IR
SUBJECT: IRAN'S CANDIDACY FOR THE UNHRC

REF: A. STATE 66050


B. NAIROBI 1715

Classified By: D/Political Counselor Lisa Peterson. Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche urging Kenya to
oppose Iran's candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council
(UNHRC) to Tom Amolo, Head of MFA's International
Organizations and Conferences Division. Amolo's response was
not encouraging. Thanking poloff for sharing the U.S.' view,
he noted that Kenya has its own perspective based on Kenya's
national interest. He assured poloff, however, that the
government would assess our request.


2. (SBU) According to Amollo, the Kenyan relationship with
Iran is based largely on trade cooperation. Iran is Kenya's
largest source of imported oil and through the two countries'
formal Joint Commission, they address trade and agriculture
issues.


3. (C) In response to Amollo's reiterated request for U.S.
support of a seat for Kenya on the UNHRC, poloff stressed
that Kenya's stand on the candidacy of human rights violators
such as Iran would demonstrate Kenya's commitment to
upholding human rights.


4. (C) The Ambassador separately tried to reach Foreign
Minister Tuju regarding Iran's candidacy, but has been unable
to make contact.
BELLAMY