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