RWANDA ON IRAN AND ISRAEL DEMARCHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 001104 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL UNGA RW IR IS SUBJECT: RWANDA ON IRAN AND ISRAEL DEMARCHES REF: A. STATE 162558 ¶B. STATE 159386 Classified By: Ambassador Michael R. Arietti, reason 1.4 (B/D) (C) On December 5 Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel demarches on Iran's nuclear program and Anti-Israel UN resolutions to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas and UN Director Augustin Rutikara. Rutikara welcomed both demarches, and reviewed talking points and background papers with close attention. On Iran, he said that, notwithstanding the altered American intelligence community assessment of Iran's nuclear program, "concern still remains" on the exact nature of Iran's nuclear plans and capabilities. The international community needed to "maintain its concern" in continuing assessments of Iran's intentions, he said. On anti-Israel resolutions tabled at the UN, Rutikara agreed that when such resolutions had come to the floor for a vote, Rwanda had in the past either abstained or been absent. As he and other Foreign Ministry officials have told the Embassy in the past, he commented that "we have only three people at our Mission in New York," and "they cannot make every vote." The Ministry would consider "no" votes on the resolutions, he said, but previous voting patterns, including non-appearances due to limited staff, would likely continue. ARIETTI