MALAWI WILL MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR US RESOLUTION

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000853 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO LINDA LUM AND AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC SOCI UNGA MI SUBJECT: MALAWI WILL MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR US RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RAPE REF: A. A) SECSTATE 155063 ¶B. B) LILONGWE 794 ¶1. (SBU) On November 13, Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Joyce Banda and Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ben Mbewe regarding the US-sponsored resolution condemning rape as a tool of conflict or oppression. Foreign Minister Banda was horrified to learn that some African countries claiming to represent the African Group were attempting to water down the resolution. (While the Pricipal Secretary was conversant on the resolution, the Foreign Minister did not seem informed on the issue despite assurances made previously by officials in the Foreign Ministry to discuss the resolution with her. Ref B) Both she and the Principal Secretary promised to contact Malawi's permanent mission to the UN and instruct the representative to maintain the focus of the resolution on rape as an instrument of political or military objectives. ¶2. (U) We suggest that USUN follow up with the permanent mission of Malawi to ensure the message to support the resolution has been delivered. EASTHAM