DEMARCHE ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 001065

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA PHUM PREL TD UNGA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

REF: A. STATE 145641

B. PORT OF SPAIN 1009

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY

1. (SBU) Poloff met October 22 with Delia Chatoor of the
Multilateral Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and presented the points in ref a. Regarding the
request to oppose &no-action8 motions in order to permit
full debate on serious human rights issue raised within the
Third Committee, Ms. Chatoor said that it would be difficult
to make a blanket commitment to do so; the actions of the
GOTT would depend upon both the language of the motion and
the country being discussed. Ms. Chatoor compared Trinidad
and Tobago to a sardine swimming among sharks, and noted that
it was sometimes prudent not to attract undue attention.


2. (SBU) Regarding the country-specific resolutions on Iran,
Belarus, Burma and the DPRK, Ms. Chatoor said reiterated that
T and T,s action would depend on the specific language of
each resolution; wording was important and T and T,s UN
Mission and MFA staff would carefully read each resolution to
see whether language differed from previous resolutions, and
what the effect of these changes might be.


3. (SBU) Ms. Chatoor said that the GOTT support for the
resolution &Condemning the use of Rape as an Instrument of
State Policy8 was likely, as the GOTT would never condone
rape for any purpose whatsoever, but that she was reluctant
to commit until the GOTT UN Mission had seen the resolution's
language (see also ref b). Regarding the resolution
&Strengthening the Role of the United Nations in Enhancing
the Effectiveness of the Principle of Periodic and Genuine
Elections and the Principle of Democratization,8 Ms. Chatoor
also said the GOTT was likely to support the resolution. She
also observed that the GOTT would be watching for the
resolution on &Defamation of Religion,8 and would consider
what steps to take if the resolution actually was put forward.


4. (SBU) In commenting on the European Union resolution
calling for a moratorium on the death penalty, Ms. Chatoor
noted that the death penalty was still on the books in
Trinidad and Tobago as an available punishment for certain
crimes. Although there were calls from some quarters for the
resumption of executions, decisions by the Privy Council had
so far prevented this. Other segments of society were
calling for a moratorium on executions, or for the total
abolition of capital punishment, she added. The GOTT
regularly receives letters and petitions from various human
rights NGOs, said Ms. Chatoor, who also noted she was
expecting the local EU representative to come by soon to
lobby for the resolution. This matter would require
consultation with the Attorney General before a decision
could be made on how to proceed, she said. The last series
of executions in 1999, with three hangings a day for several
days, had been traumatic for society, she observed.


5. (SBU) Comment: Activity in Trinidad and Tobago, including
action and decisions at various government ministries, is
likely to be glacial until after the November 5 elections and
the subsequent naming of a new cabinet. End comment.







KUSNITZ