HAITI NONCOMMITAL ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001871 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/PPC, IO/UNP - ERIN MCLINN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA IS HA SUBJECT: HAITI NONCOMMITAL ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS REF: STATE 159386 ¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) PolCouns drew from reftel points in a meeting November 23 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Political Affairs Director Wiener Jean-Baptiste. PolCouns emphasized how these three committees over the years have made no useful contribution to achieving a two-state solution. In particular, they have done nothing to help efforts supported by the UN itself through the Quartet to achieve this outcome. Hence, their mandates should not be renewed. PolCouns made a point to welcome Haiti's abstention on 61/116 and urged that Haiti change its yes votes on 61/22 and 61/23 to abstentions. ¶3. (SBU) Jean-Baptiste said he would communicate these points to Foreign Minister Clerisme. He would not commit to a change in Haiti's vote. However, Jean-Baptiste responded strongly to reftel argument that the Anapolis conference presented an historic opportunity to advance toward the internationally recognized goals of two states, ISRAEL and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. He said he was encouraged by the fact that numerous Arab countries historically at odds with ISRAEL had pledged to attend Annapolis. Jean-Baptiste made a follow-on phone call to PolCouns November 26 to express satisfaction that Syria had just pledged to participate. PolCouns emphasized that there now exists the potential for real progress in the Middle East, which further highlights that these three UN bodies serve no useful role. SANDERSON