ANGOLA NOT LIKELY TO SUPPORT BELARUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000463

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO AND AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PREL UNHRC PHUM AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA NOT LIKELY TO SUPPORT BELARUS

REF: A. SECSTATE 58054


B. LUANDA 0445

Classified By: CDA FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)(D)


1. (U) Poloff delivered demarche on Belarus' candidacy to the
UN Human Rights Council (reftel A) on May 10th, 2007 to
Jacinto Rangel, Deputy Director of the Department of
International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign
Relations. Rangel thanked us for our points and confirmed
that the French and UK embassies had jointly spoken with him
on this issue the previous day.


2. (C) Rangel stated, off the record, his belief that the GRA
does not want to jeopardize its own candidacy to the Human
Rights Council. For this reason he expects the GRA will, at
the very least, abstain. He did not rule out a no vote
against Belarus. He stated that final decisions have not
been made and will not be announced in advance of the vote.


3. (U) Rangel also took the opportunity to reiterate the
GRA's request for USG support of Angola's candidacy to the
Human Right Council (reftel B).

FERNANDEZ