RESOLUTION CONDEMNING STATE SPONSORED EFFORTS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 002253

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2016
TAGS: AORC KAWC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION CONDEMNING STATE SPONSORED EFFORTS TO
DENY THE HOLOCAUST OCCURRED:GUIDANCE REQUEST


Classified By: AMB. ALEJANDRO D. WOLFF, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. ACTION REQUEST:(C) USUN seeks concurrence from Department
to submit a resolution (drafted in para. 9) directly to the
General Assembly Plenary condemning state sponsored (Iran)
efforts to deny the existence of the Holocaust as an
historical event. USUN seeks to submit a resolution to the
General Assembly no later than December 15 to ensure that the
resolution is introduced in accordance with the Rules of
Procedure when the Plenary takes up the human rights agenda
on December 19.


2. SUMMARY:(C) As Department is aware, Iran has convened a
conference entitled "Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision"
which has the basic aim of denying the existence of the
Holocaust as an historical event. Such action is in direct
contravention of UN resolution A/60/7, which was passed by
consensus and 'Rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an
historical event, either in full or part' (para. 3).

3.(C) The conference has been roundly condemned by the U.S.,
Member States, The Secretary General, UNESCO, and others. We
believe that the General Assembly must take note of actions
by Member States which are in breach of its own resolution.
To uphold an important principle of condemning those states
that deny the historical occurrence of the Holocaust and to
affirm the integrity of the General Assembly, we have
prepared a draft resolution in response to the Iranian
actions. In an effort to minimize controversy and maximize
prospects of adoption, the draft avoids naming Iran. The
intention is to submit the resolution directly to the General
Assembly Plenary as soon as possible to seek action before
the General Assembly recesses for the Christmas Holiday.
Once Department approves of the initiative, USUN will seek
co-sponsors. END SUMMARY.

4.(C) Iran convened on December 12 a conference entitled
"Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision." The composition of
the conference and the statements by the Iranian sponsors
make clear the purpose of the conference is to promote the
denial of the Holocaust. This is confirmed by media
coverage, which also describes the reaction of many Member
States. Four examples from the media highlight this
sentiment include:
- CNN on December 13 reports "Ahmadinejad announced the
conference would set up a 'fact-finding' commission to
determine whether the Holocaust happened or not."
-Deutsche Welle on December 13 reports "The German government
condemns all attempts to deny the Holocaust and question
Israel's right to independent Statehood." Further, "It's in
this context that we condemn any attempt to provide a forum
for revisionists who are out to rewrite history in an
unacceptable manner."
-PRI Novosti on December 13 reports "Russia shares the UN
General Assembly's determination not to admit the denial of
the Holocaust."
-UN News Service on December 12 reports that the UNESCO
Director-General Koichiro Matsuura stated "Any attempt to
call into question or deny the reality of the Holocaust or of
any other crime against humanity is to be deeply regretted.
I fully share the conviction of the UN SG, who recently
denounced all attempts to cast doubt on the reality of the
Holocaust."

5.(C) The sponsorship of this conference by the Iranian
Foreign Ministry is, in our view, a direct infringement of
resolution A/60/7. That resolution was adopted by consensus,
without a vote, and was sponsored by 104 Member States;
although, no Arab Member State was a sponsor. USUN believes
it is necessary to introduce a resolution that reaffirms
A/60/7 and that asks for a condemnation of state sponsored
efforts to deny that the Holocaust occurred.

6.(C) USUN expects for the resolution to be challenged by
Iran, some Arab Member States, and possibly others. We would
set out to succeed in passing the resolution. However, given
the limited time frame and likely energetic efforts by some
to derail the measure the resolution may not be successful.
It would, however, still force Member States to go on the
record opposing a resolution they previously endorsed, and a
proposition - Holocaust denial - that is universally and
appropriately condemned.

7.(C) USUN anticipates three possible procedural attacks on
the proposed resolution.
-1: Initially, a vote of no action is called. This would in
essence be a vote on the resolution.
-2: Proposals are submitted to amend the draft resolution.
As the drafter, we would resist such efforts.
-3: Assuming our draft survives 1 and 2, a vote on the
resolution.

8.(C) The Government of Israel indicated its support for the
draft resolution. The GOI Mission raised three areas of
potential concern. The draft resolution may: 1) take time to
pursue and a Security Council Presidential or Press Statement
may proceed more expeditiously; 2) An unsuccessful effort
may potentially weaken the original Holocaust resolution;
and 3) it may complicate Iran sanctions on the nuclear issue
in the Security Council. The GOI Mission and USUN discussed
that the Security Council in an Presidential or Press
Statement may be viewed as an improper vehicle to criticize a
Member State for violating a General Assembly resolution.
USUN and the GOI Mission also considered that a condemnation
of Holocaust denial would have more force as an action in the
General Assembly rather than a Security Council statement and
that pursuing the matter in the General Assembly may be less
likely to complicate the Iran nuclear sanctions in the
Council. Finally, USUN and the GOI Mission considered that
the conference itself and its high profile may weaken the
original resolution if unanswered.

9.(C) DRAFT RESOLUTION:

The General Assembly,

Recalls resolution A/60/7 which stated that the Holocaust
resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people,
along with countless members of other minorities,

Recalls further that resolution A/60/7, adopted by
consensus, rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an
historical event, either in full or part,

Notes that a Member State has officially sponsored a
conference for the explicit purpose of questioning whether
the Holocaust occurred as an historical event,

Condemns without reserve any denial of the Holocaust by
any Member State,

Calls upon any Member State that has supported efforts to
question whether the Holocaust occurred as an historical
event to withdraw such support,

Decides to reaffirm General Assembly resolution A/60/7.
WOLFF