BENIN WILL SUPPORT UNGA RAPE RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L COTONOU 000837 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/RHS FOR ELIZABETH WEPLER AND AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL BN SUBJECT: BENIN WILL SUPPORT UNGA RAPE RESOLUTION REF: SECSTATE 148527 Classified By: CDA Martina Boustani for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Thomas Adoumasse, the Director of International Relations, at the GOB's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 29, 2007. PolOff stressed the importance of this resolution for the credibility of the United Nations and the embarrassment the Africa block would suffer if it was identified as the cause of the resolution's failure. Adoumasse assured PolOff the GOB will support the resolution. Poloff pressed for GOB's co-sponsorship of the resolution. Adoumasse stated he would consult with Benin's Permanent Representative in New York and then reply. 2.(C) Adoumasse raised, independently of PolOff, the actions of a member of Benin's UN Delegation discussed in paragraph 5 of reftel. Adoumasse stated a group of lower level diplomats had made decisions in that meeting without instructions or approval from their governments. Adoumasse stressed that Benin's Permanent Representative disciplined the Beninese diplomat for his actions. BOUSTANI