(C) DESPITE PRESSURE, SURINAME NONCOMMITTAL BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000729 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UNHRC UN XG BO NS SUBJECT: (C) DESPITE PRESSURE, SURINAME NONCOMMITTAL BUT LIKELY TO ABSTAIN IN THIRD COMMITTEE VOTING REF: (A) STATE 184178 (B) STATE 187018 Classified By: AMBASSADOR SCHREIBER HUGHES FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) The Ambassador and Pol/Econ officers have approached the GOS Foreign Ministry on four separate occasions regarding ref A, most recently on 11/15, when the Ambassador and Pol/Econ section chief personally delivered points in reftels A and B. As with all previous approaches, and despite the Ambassador,s admonition that the Belarus Anti-U.S. resolutions (ref B) particularly deserved a "no" vote from Suriname, MFA Permanent Secretary Frederick Boekstaaf reiterated his country,s general position to abstain on such resolutions. ¶2. (U) That said, MFA International Organizations Division Chief Nalinie Sewpersadsingh also asked Ambassador and Pol/Econ chief for the texts of all referenced resolutions, implying that the GOS is still in the process of developing its position. Post is in contact with State/IO to secure all requested documents, and will deliver them to the MFA immediately upon receipt. ¶3. (C) Comment: Despite Sewpersadsingh,s request, Post expects that Suriname will continue to follow its general practice and abstain. Nevertheless, Post will continue to aggressively pursue the GOS and will report any subsequent information via septel. SCHREIBER HUGHES