Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW5146
2007-10-25 11:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

ALDIP ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

Tags:  PHUM PREL KTIA UN RS 
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VZCZCXYZ0016
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #5146 2981100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251100Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4831
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0367
UNCLAS MOSCOW 005146 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN RS
SUBJECT: ALDIP ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

REF: STATE 145641

UNCLAS MOSCOW 005146

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN RS
SUBJECT: ALDIP ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

REF: STATE 145641


1. We delivered reftel demarche on October 24 to MFA
Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights
First Secretary Aleksey Goltyayev. Goltyaev said that the
GOR would oppose on principle country-specific resolutions
condemning the human rights records of Iran, Burma, the DPRK
and Belarus. The GOR is against such "politicization" of
human rights resolutions and the singling out of specific
countries, which only divides the international community
into "good guys and bad guys." Instead, the international
community should encourage governments to make voluntary
commitments to promote human rights and hold them accountable
through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR),in which the
human rights records of all UN member-states would be subject
to review under agreed-upon guidelines. Furthermore,
Goltyaev explained that the GOR sees the UN Human Rights
Council as the appropriate forum for such efforts rather than
the UNGA Third Committee.


2. Goltyaev had the following comments on the thematic
resolutions in reftel:

-- Rape as an Instrument of State Policy


3. The GOR does not have a position on the resolution at
this time. Goltyaev added that several MFA officials
observed that the resolution could be redrafted to include
language referring to "non-state actors," which would make
the resolution applicable to private security firms. This
could place the U.S. in violation of the resolution because
of the activities of private security firms the USG uses in
Iraq.

-- Elections Resolution


4. Goltyaev could not comment on this resolution as the
issue is handled by another department in the MFA. Goltyaev
said he would pass on our points to the appropriate
department.

-- Defamation of Religion


5. The GOR does not share the U.S. concern that the
resolution could restrict freedom of expression in the name
of protecting religion and may support it. Goltyaev added
that Russia already has legislation prohibiting the
defamation of religion.

-- EU Death Penalty Resolution


6. The resolution "goes in the right direction" and the GOR
could support it so long as the resolution calls only for a
moratorium and not a ban on the death penalty.


7. Finally, Goltyaev told us that the GOR tabled the
resolution on Inadmissibility of Certain Practices that
Contribute to Fueling Contemporary Forms Of Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance. While
the GOR introduced this resolution previously, it has since
added language specifically condemning desecrating the graves
of and monuments to those who fought against Nazism. The GOR
feels strongly that such activities are being used to fuel
neo-Nazism. Goltyaev said that the GOR observed these
activities throughout Eastern and Central Europe and stressed
that this language was not directed at a specific country.
Burns