ROK TO OPPOSE BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 003962 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL KS BO SUBJECT: ROK TO OPPOSE BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 187018 Classified By: POL-MIL Chief David Wolff. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) On November 15, poloff delivered reftel points, urging capitals to vote against three retaliatory resolutions sponsored by Belarus in the UN Third Committee, to Jang Hyun-cheol, Deputy Director of MOFAT's Human Rights and Social Affairs Division. Jang explained that Seoul had already informed its mission in New York to reject two resolutions proposed by Belarus, specifically the resolutions titled "Situation on Human Rights and Democracy in the United States of America" and "Promotion of Equitable and Mutually Respectful Dialogue on Human Rights". Jang said that Seoul had not received word from its mission about the third resolution "Inadmissibility of Human Rights and Violations Through the Practice of Secret Detention and Unlawful Transfers While Countering Terrorism." He opined, however, that should such a resolution be submitted for a vote, he was fairly certain that Seoul would reject the third resolution as well. VERSHBOW