BENIN: CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION AT THE UNGA

UNCLAS COTONOU 000836 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/IUNP John Mariz PARIS FOR D'ELIA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PHUM UN CU BN SUBJECT: BENIN: CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION AT THE UNGA REF: STATE 148506 1.(SBU) On October 29, Poloff delivered reftel demarche to the Director of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Thomas Adoumasse. Mr. Adoumasse acknowledged the seriousness of the human rights problem in Cuba, which he attributed to the Castro regime. He said that the Group of 77 and the Movement of Non-Aligned States put a great deal of pressure on UNGA's African delegates to vote for the resolution. 2.(SBU) Due to pressure from those groups Adoumasse underscored the GOB could not use an Explanation of Vote in the Cuba Resolution. Adoumasse did raise the possibility the GOB would abstain from voting on the resolution. Adoumasse stated he would discuss this with Benin's Permanent Representative to the UN. BOUSTANI