AUSTRALIA CLARIFIES POSITION ON UNGA RAPE

UNCLAS CANBERRA 001630 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPTARTMENT FOR IO LINDA LUM AND AMY OSTERMEIER DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC UNGA SOCI AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA CLARIFIES POSITION ON UNGA RAPE RESOLUTION REF: A. STATE 155063 ¶B. CANBERRA 1491 ¶1. In a November 13 conversation with poloff, Colin Milner, Director, Human Rights and Indigenous Issues Section, International Organizations Branch, International Organizations and Legal Division, DFAT clarified the GOA's position on the Resolution Condemning Rape As An Instrument Of State Policy. ¶2. Since Ref A report, at which time the Australian government was willing to co-sponsor the resolution, Milner explained, Prime Minister Howard called a national election and the GOA has gone into caretaker mode. As a consequence, and because on review Australia is concerned with elements of the text of the resolution, the decision to co-sponsor remains under consideration and will be subject to review of the final text. Milner confirmed, however, that Australia does not support the African amendment. CLUNE