Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARAMARIBO599
2007-11-19 19:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:  

SURINAME MAY ABSTAIN ON UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE

Tags:  PHUM PREL UN NS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0323
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0599 3231956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191956Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9807
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0161
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1620
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0074
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000599 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/CAR FOR JACKIE ROSHOLT, DRL/MLGA FOR LYNN SICADE AND
SYLVIA HAMMOND, IO/RHS FOR AMY OSTERMEIER OR DEEPA GHOSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME MAY ABSTAIN ON UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE
NO-ACTION RESOLUTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 157026

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000599

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/CAR FOR JACKIE ROSHOLT, DRL/MLGA FOR LYNN SICADE AND
SYLVIA HAMMOND, IO/RHS FOR AMY OSTERMEIER OR DEEPA GHOSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME MAY ABSTAIN ON UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE
NO-ACTION RESOLUTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 157026


1. (U) SUMMARY: On November 19 Post delivered the message
per reftel to Government of Suriname (GOS) Ambassador to the
United Nations Henry McDonald, GOS Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) Permanent Secretary Jane Aarland-Nanhu, and GOS
MFA Acting Head of International Organizations Rosita Hubard.
McDonald and Aarland-Nanhu said Suriname probably will not
vote against the no-action motions, but will consider
abstention or absence. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) At a conference November 5-9, GOS Ambassador to
the United Nations Henry Mac-Donald told Ambassador Schreiber
Hughes she is welcome to communicate personally with him on
matters of importance, and specifically mentioned the United
Nations General Assembly. Despite GOS MFA protestations to
the contrary, it is Post's impression that GOS Ambassadors
sometimes act independently of the GOS MFA, and hence called
Ambassador Mac-Donald directly. Mac-Donald stayed
on-message, saying that he would check wit his capital, but
did agree to see whether Suriname can abstain or be absent.
NOTE: Human rights is Mac-Donald's specialty. Amb inferred
that he wanted to be helpful, if permitted by GOS policy.
END NOTE


3. (SBU) In a Post-initiated follow-up call, GOS MFA
Permanent Secretary Jane Aarland-Nanhu told Ambassador
Schreiber Hughes the GOS usually does not support human
rights resolutions because it considers human rights to be
the internal affairs of the countries concerned. Therefore,
the GOS often supports no-action motions. Suriname sometimes
abstains, however, and there is a chance they may do so on
the no-action motions in reftel. Aarland-Nanhu said she has
been approached with the same request from the European
representatives present in Paramaribo (the Netherlands and
France have embassies) and is considering a response. She
lamented that Foreign Minister Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk is
traveling (she will return to Suriname Wednesday, November
21) and cannot be involved in the decision making at the
moment. Nevertheless, Aarland-Nanhu promised to discuss the
issue with Ambassador Mac-Donald in New York.


4. (U) Post will continue to press the GOS and will report
any further response from the GOS.
SCHREIBER HUGHES