Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SUVA174
2006-04-28 01:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Suva
Cable title:  

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - PACIFIC VIEWS OF IRAN

Tags:  PREL PHUM UNHRC FJ TO KR NR TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7428
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHSV #0174 1180122
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 280122Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3049
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0246
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1198
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0818
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0993
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000174 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC FJ TO KR NR TU
SUBJECT: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - PACIFIC VIEWS OF IRAN
CANDIDACY

REF: SECSTATE 66050

Classified By: Ambassador Larry Dinger. Section 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000174

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC FJ TO KR NR TU
SUBJECT: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - PACIFIC VIEWS OF IRAN
CANDIDACY

REF: SECSTATE 66050

Classified By: Ambassador Larry Dinger. Section 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: We delivered reftel demarche on UN Human
Rights Council membership to the highest-levels available in
Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu on April 27 and 28.
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu expressed general
concurrence with the points made. All four implied that they
are very likely to send instructions for votes against Iran's
candidacy and in favor only of candidates with acceptable
human-rights records. Tonga's acting Foreign Minister
declined to take a stand but said he would convey U.S. views
to Minister Tu'a for a decision well before the vote. End
Summary.


2. (C) Fiji Foreign Minister Tavola informed the Ambassador
that MFA has been lobbied by several applicants for HRC
seats, but not yet by Iran. In response Fiji has discussed
with several interlocutors its own interest in a seat on the
Peacekeeping Commission, a role which Fiji hopes the U.S. can
support. We promised to convey that request to Washington,
while noting the U.S. standard response to such requests.
Back on Iran, Tavola has instructed his staff that Fiji needs
to support candidates that are "suitable themselves" and are
"clean enough to be models." He said Iran "does not impress
Fiji at all."


3. (C) Tonga Acting Foreign Minister Tone said he was aware
of the Iran-candidacy issue, fully comprehends U.S. views,
and would pass our demarche to Foreign Minister Tu'a, who
returns to Tonga on May 4.


4. (C) Nauru Foreign Minister Adeang, on the verge of
departing to New York for the UN CSD talks, said he "tend(ed)
to think we'd support the U.S. position." He said he would
instruct his UN delegate in time for the May 9 vote. "You've
got a friend in Nauru," he concluded.


5. (C) Kiribati MFA Permanent Secretary Biribo said his
government has already been approached by Kiribati's Baha'i
community, asking Kiribati not to support Iran. He said his
government would take U.S. views into serious consideration
and would "not be looking at supporting Iran's bid." (Note:
Kiribati does not have a permanent UN representative in New
York. It's proxy is cast by New Zealand. End note.)


6. (C) Tuvalu's MFA Permanent Secretary, Tine Leuelu, said
Tuvalu shares the United States' "deeply held beliefs" that
Iran would be an inappropriate member of the council. "Iran
would not be the sort of candidate we'd support," he said.
In a follow-up discussion, Leuelu said the matter had been
discussed with Prime Minister Toafa and there is general
agreement Tuvalu would support the U.S. position on Iran.

DINGER