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