NORWAY RESPONDS TO THIRD COMMITTEE POINTS, SEEKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 001053 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DRL/MLGA (LSICADE, SHAMMOND),IO/RHS (AOSTERMEIER, DGHOSH) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN NO SUBJECT: NORWAY RESPONDS TO THIRD COMMITTEE POINTS, SEEKS USG SUPPORT REF: A. STATE 145641 ¶B. OSLO 990 Classified By: Acting DCM Kristen Bauer, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On October 22 we delivered reftel points to MFA Human Rights and Democracy Issue Deputy Director General Tormod Endresen. Endresen pledged that Norway will oppose no action motions and strongly supported the full debate of human rights issues raised in the Third Committee. Although Norway has comments on the initial texts, the GON will support the resolutions on Iran and Burma, which have been tabled by Canada and the EU, respectively. Norway would "conceptually" back the North Korea resolution after clearing on the language. Endresen stated that the USG could "count on Norway's support" concerning the proposed Belarus resolution. ¶2. (C) Endresen confirmed that Norway also conceptually supports the U.S. sponsored resolution against state-sanctioned rape (ref B),but has some problems with the present working draft (including the lack of references to relevant international instruments). He described how the Norwegians were working in New York with the USG to work through Norway's comments. The Deputy Director General affirmed Norway's support of the U.S. resolution concerning the UN Elections Program. He also confirmed that Norway would back the UN Religious Intolerance resolution. ¶3. (C) Norway will support the traditional EU, USG, and Canadian positions and vote against the defamation of religion text. Finally, Endresen appreciated attempts by the USG to minimize any public disagreement concerning the EU's proposed death penalty resolution. ¶4. (C) Endresen strongly urges support of two Norwegian-sponsored resolutions. The first concerns the protection of internally displaced persons. The second resolution involves Human Rights Defenders. Endresen emphasized that the U.S. and Norway must "stand together" on this "non-controversial" text. The immediate Norwegian strategy concerning the Defenders resolution is to first secure a mandate for renewal. JOHNSON