DEMARCHE: PHILIPPINES TO CONSIDER A STRONGER STAND

UNCLAS MANILA 003875 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DRL/MLGA (PAZ) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PHUM UN RP PREL PGOV UG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: PHILIPPINES TO CONSIDER A STRONGER STAND ON BURMA AT THE UN REF: A. STATE 163935 (UNGA PLENARY VOTES ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS) ¶B. STATE 161770 (UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE VOTING: FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHES) ¶1. (SBU) As requested in reftels A and B, polcouns met on December 5 with Department of Foreign Affairs Acting A/S Grace Princesa to urge the Philippines to support four UN resolutions condemning human rights situations in Burma, Iran, Belarus, and the DPRK. Polcouns noted that the UNGA Plenary will consider approving the resolutions in mid-December and that the Philippines has an opportunity to make a strong statement at this critical juncture on all four resolutions. Polcouns noted the courageous public stance that President Arroyo has taken against the Burmese regime's repression -- most recently at the November ASEAN Summit in Singapore -- and he expressed the hope that the Philippines, as a democratic neighbor of Burma, would continue that symbolically important leadership at the UN as well. Princesa acknowledged that the Philippine government had deviated from its practice of not supporting country-specific resolutions by voting in favor of the draft resolution on the North Korea situation, as well as by abstaining from the no-action motion on Burma, and indicated she would raise U.S. concerns with her superiors and seek a review of their votes on the other resolutions. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY