Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANDARSERIBEGAWAN149
2007-05-18 04:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Cable title:
BRUNEI MAY HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO DROP SUPPORT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO9070 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBD #0149 1380434 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 180434Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3820 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0062 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0009 RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK PRIORITY 0002 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0002 RUEHGVA/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0088 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000149
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI MAY HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO DROP SUPPORT FOR
BELARUS UNHRC CANDIDACY AFTER FIRST ROUND
REF: A. SECSTATE 58056
B. SECSTATE 63345
C. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 141
Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000149
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI MAY HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO DROP SUPPORT FOR
BELARUS UNHRC CANDIDACY AFTER FIRST ROUND
REF: A. SECSTATE 58056
B. SECSTATE 63345
C. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 141
Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) As discussed Ref C, Brunei is still likely to support
Belarus in at least the first round of UNHRC voting. At this
late stage, drawing on Ref C paragraph 3 points, USUN may
still be able to help move Brunei to abstain on Belarus in
subsequent rounds now that we understand Bosnia has announced
its candidacy.
2. (C) DCM delivered ref A demarche on May 10 to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) Bilateral Affairs Director
Pg Alihashim in parallel with UK and French demarches that
same morning. We followed up on May 14 with MoFAT UN Affairs
Assistant Director Florence Chong to urge an abstention on
Belarus's candidacy. Chong responded that the Brunei UN
mission had reported that the East Europe group had endorsed
Belarus and Slovenia and Brunei traditionally supported
recommendations by regional blocks. DCM countered that
Belarus was a special case requiring extra scrutiny. Chong
said she would relay U.S. concerns up her chain of command
and seek updates from the Brunei Mission in New York.
3. (C) In a second follow up call May 17, Chong reported that
the Foreign Minister, Prince Muhamed, who is currently in
Pakistan for the OIC meeting with the MoFAT Director for
Internation Organizations, had already signed off on Brunei's
position. However, she said that Brunei was aware of Bosnia
declaring its candidacy for a UNHCR seat. Chong implied by
this that Brunei's UN Mission would vote in support of
Belarus at least in the first round, but may have some
flexibility in its instructions in subsequent rounds. DCM
urged Chong to follow the vote closely and look for the
opportunity to update Brunei's position in subsequent rounds
of voting. Chong said she would relay the U.S. view to her
Director in Pakistan.
SKODON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI MAY HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO DROP SUPPORT FOR
BELARUS UNHRC CANDIDACY AFTER FIRST ROUND
REF: A. SECSTATE 58056
B. SECSTATE 63345
C. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 141
Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) As discussed Ref C, Brunei is still likely to support
Belarus in at least the first round of UNHRC voting. At this
late stage, drawing on Ref C paragraph 3 points, USUN may
still be able to help move Brunei to abstain on Belarus in
subsequent rounds now that we understand Bosnia has announced
its candidacy.
2. (C) DCM delivered ref A demarche on May 10 to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) Bilateral Affairs Director
Pg Alihashim in parallel with UK and French demarches that
same morning. We followed up on May 14 with MoFAT UN Affairs
Assistant Director Florence Chong to urge an abstention on
Belarus's candidacy. Chong responded that the Brunei UN
mission had reported that the East Europe group had endorsed
Belarus and Slovenia and Brunei traditionally supported
recommendations by regional blocks. DCM countered that
Belarus was a special case requiring extra scrutiny. Chong
said she would relay U.S. concerns up her chain of command
and seek updates from the Brunei Mission in New York.
3. (C) In a second follow up call May 17, Chong reported that
the Foreign Minister, Prince Muhamed, who is currently in
Pakistan for the OIC meeting with the MoFAT Director for
Internation Organizations, had already signed off on Brunei's
position. However, she said that Brunei was aware of Bosnia
declaring its candidacy for a UNHCR seat. Chong implied by
this that Brunei's UN Mission would vote in support of
Belarus at least in the first round, but may have some
flexibility in its instructions in subsequent rounds. DCM
urged Chong to follow the vote closely and look for the
opportunity to update Brunei's position in subsequent rounds
of voting. Chong said she would relay the U.S. view to her
Director in Pakistan.
SKODON