POLISH RESPONSE ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS ON THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 002259 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2016 TAGS: UNGA PHUM PREL PTER PL SUBJECT: POLISH RESPONSE ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHILDREN IN LEBANON REF: STATE 176793 Classified By: POLCOUNS MARY T. CURTIN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) PolCouns October 24 delivered reftel demarche to MFA UN Department officer Agnieszka Wyznikiewicz, urging that Poland oppose Third Committee agenda items on "The Situation of the Lebanese Children," and "Consequences of the Israeli Invasion on the Human Rights Situation in Lebanon." On the latter ("Consequences of the Israel Invasion..."), Wyznikiewicz noted that the text was the same as used in the UN Human Rights Council resolution on the subject during the summer, and that Poland would once again vote against it if the language was unchanged. She added, however, that there had been internal EU discussion of the matter, with two options--to discuss the language with Lebanon or simply to vote no. The outcome was that the EU will discuss the resolution with Lebanon, and if they would agree to EU language to make the resolution more balanced, the EU countries will reconsider their position. If Lebanon does not agree to changes, EU countries will vote against the resolution. ¶2. (C) On the resolution on the situation of children, Wyznikiewicz said that Poland would like Lebanon to withdraw the resolution, and noted that it would be difficult to vote against it because of language with regard to children. PolCouns reiterated reftel points that the resolutions politicize the issue without helping the situation of children. Wyznikiewicz said Poland is still consulting with other EU countries whether to vote against the resolution or abstain if it remains unchanged, and said that France is trying to work with Lebanon to change the text. Wyznikiewicz said that she will inform us when Poland reaches a final decision. HILLAS