SAUDI MFA DEMARCHED ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS, CPC

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 008860

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL EAIR ECON KIRF UNHRC AF SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI MFA DEMARCHED ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS, CPC
DESIGNATION, AFGHAN HAJJ FLIGHTS

REF: A. SECSTATE 185564

B. SECSTATE 185925

C. SECSTATE 184178

D. SECSTATE 187018

Classified By: Political Counselor David Rundell for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).


1. (C) Deputy PolCouns demarched Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Department of International Organizations, human rights lead,
Abdulrahman Al-Rassj, on November 15 regarding Afghan Hajj
flights (Ref A),Saudi Arabia's November 13 redesignation as
a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) (Ref B),and UN General
Assembly Third Committee Country Specific resolutions (Refs C
and D). Al-Rassj made no comment regarding the CPC
designation, and stated that his colleauges in the MFA's Hajj
Department would contact Post early in the week regarding the
request for assistance on Afghan Hajj flights.


2. (C) Regarding UNGA Country specific resolutions, Al-Rassij
stated that the SAG would support the resolutions on North
Korea and Burma, plans to abstain on Belarus (NOTE: These
instructions have not yet been conveyed to the Saudi Mission
in New York. END NOTE.),and oppose the resolution on
Uzbekistan. The SAG is still undecided on the Iran
resolution, but Al-Rassij predicted that it would also
oppopse this resolution. Deputy PolCouns reiterated reftel
talking points and stongly urged the SAG to reconsider its
opposition/abstention. Although he provided no substantive
reasons why the SAG would oppose/abstain on the Belarus,
Uzbekistan, and Iran resolutions, Al-Rassij indicated that
the SAG would align itself with the view of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference. However, he emphasized that this
is only one factor in the decision-making process. He also
pointed out that the development of the language in the Iran
resolution is the reason the SAG has changed its position
over time.


3. (C) Al-Rassij, who was previously part of the Saudi
Mission in New York and worked on Third Committee issues,
continued that he did not expect the Belarus resolutions
"regarding Canada and the U.S." to make it to a vote. He
also stated that the SAG, which is not in favor of these
resolutions, is following their development closely. He said
the Mission in New York wants to discuss them further with
"Arab/Islamic" countries, but suggested that the SAG is
"close to voting against them." However, he cautioned that
this is not a definite position and the Saudis will take into
consideration the views of "like-minded countries."
OBERWETTER