DELIVERY OF TRIPARTITE DEMARCHE REQUEST ON THE UN

UNCLAS WARSAW 002197 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA PL SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF TRIPARTITE DEMARCHE REQUEST ON THE UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES REF: SECSTATE 169257 (SBU) Political Counselor, joined by New Zealand Deputy Head of Mission Maureen O'Meeghan, and Australian Third Secretary Amy Doidge, delivered reftel demarche October 13 to Miroslaw Luczka, Acting Director of the MFA's UN Department, urging that Poland oppose the adoption of the current text of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when it comes before the UN General Assembly this fall. Luczka listened to points outlined in reftel, but indicated, as had MFA Under Secretary Janusz Stanczyk in a demarche earlier this year, SIPDIS that Poland had no strong interest in the resolution, and would follow EU consensus. PolCouns argued that Poland, as a supporter of human rights and of UN structures, had an interest in preventing the adoption of such a flawed document, especially given its apparent elevation of group rights over individual human rights. The New Zealand and Australian Embassy representatives also urged that Poland consider that the document would in fact do nothing to advance the rights of indigenous peoples. Luczka reiterated the strong support in many EU capitals for the document, indicating that Poland would likely not break with EU consensus or work to change it. He promised, however, to pass on the demarche to senior officials and provide us with feedback. ASHE