GEORGIA: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS DEMARCHE

UNCLAS TBILISI 002644 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. FOR IO, DRL, EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS DEMARCHE REF: SECSTATE 145641 ¶1. Per reftel request, Poloff delivered talking points to Alexander Nalbandov, Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the issue of "no-action" motions, Nalbandov said that it was Georgia's policy not to support no-action motions and they would always vote against them. He added that the GoG believed that it was important each resolution be debated on its substance, in line with the U.S. position. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding the country specific resolutions on the human rights records of Burma, Iran, Belarus and North Korea, Nalbandov said that human rights is a top priority for the Georgian government and the issue of human rights violations in other countries is important for Georgia. He added, however, that he had recently discussed the Iran resolution with Georgian Ambassador to the UN, Irakli Alasania, who is in Tbilisi for consultations, and it was agreed that Georgia would abstain from voting on it. Poloff emphasized that the Iran resolution was a top priority for the U.S. and asked that Georgia consider voting for the resolution. Nalbandov replied that Georgia would most likely support the country specific resolutions for Burma, North Korea and Belarus, but he would have to consult with other government officials before he could confirm Georgian support (Note: Of the three, the Belarus resolution might be most problematic, as the Georgian government has recently opened an Embassy there and both sides have publicly stated their desire to improve bilateral relations. End note). ¶3. Nalbandov said that Georgia "absolutely" favors any resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. Georgia abolished the death penalty in 1997, he said, and has signed and ratified both EU Convention on Human Rights protocols calling for the abolition of the death penalty during peace and wartime. ¶4. Nalbandov was not aware of the U.S.-sponsored resolution in support of the UN Elections Program. He said he would check with the Georgian mission at the UN, but added that he did not think there would be any problem for Georgia to support the Resolution. TEFFT