UNGA: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001108 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017 TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG PHUM PREF UNGA IS SUBJECT: UNGA: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS REF: A. (A) USUN NEWYORK 01087 ¶B. (B) STATE 159386 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Jeffrey DeLaurentis. Reasons 1.4 (B&D) ¶1. (C) This is an action request. See paragraphs 2-3. ¶2. (C) Per reftel, each year USUN works to reduce support from member states for three UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions that extend the mandates of three bodies in the UN that are biased against Israel. On November 26, the UNGA's Fourth Committee voted on the resolution that would renew the authorization of one of these biased bodies, the "Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories." The encouraging vote results, 85 - 8 (US) - 70, reported in Ref A, suggest that if we are able to secure a few more votes by December 7, which is the scheduled date of the final vote on this resolution in plenary, we will be able to argue that the majority of UN states do not support the existence of the "Special Committee" and therefore funding for the entity should be discontinued (as explained in ref B). Thus we are making a special effort in the coming days to target selected delegations to vote "no," to "abstain," or to simply not vote. USUN Senior Area Advisors have compiled a list of countries that could make a difference. ¶3. (C) USUN requests that the Department request addressees to reinforce in capitals USUN,s efforts with New York Permanent Representatives. Below is a list of countries worth targeting in an effort to seek a change in vote. USUN will also be meeting representatives of these countries in New York to encourage a change in their voting patterns. AF -------------- Cape Verde- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In the 61st plenary Cape Verde abstained, however in the 60th plenary voted yes. USUN suggests encouraging Cape Verde to abstain. Equatorial Guinea- Abstained in the Fourth Committee vote. In the 61st plenary Equatorial Guinea voted yes, however, in the 60th plenary they did not vote. USUN suggests encouraging Equatorial Guinea to maintain its abstention in the plenary or not vote. Sierra Leone- Did not vote in the Fourth Committee. However, in the 61st plenary Sierra Leone voted yes and in the 60th plenary they did not vote. USUN suggests encouraging Sierra Leone to abstain or not vote. Uganda- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. However, in both the 61st and 60th plenary Uganda abstained. USUN suggest encouraging Uganda to abstain. EAP -------------- Nauru- Voted no in the Fourth Committee. Israel should be encouraged to express its appreciation towards Nauru's continuous support. Samoa- Abstained in the Fourth Committee as it did in the 61st and 60th plenary. USUN suggests encouraging Samoa to join the no votes, if possible. Tuvalu- Did not vote in the Fourth Committee. However, in the past 61st and 60th plenary Tuvalu voted no. USUN suggests encouraging Tuvalu to continue voting no and express appreciation for Tuvalu's continuous support. USUN NEW Y 00001108 002 OF 003 EUR -------------- Andorra- Abstained in the Fourth Committee. Andorra did so as well in the 61st and 60th plenaries. USUN suggests encouraging Andorra to vote no. Armenia- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary Armenia voted yes. Armenia, as a candidate for EU membership, may be persuaded to follow the EU voting on this issue. USUN recommends urging Armenia to join EU member states in abstaining. Azerbaijan- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary Azerbaijan voted yes. Azerbaijan, as a candidate for EU membership, may be persuaded to follow the EU's voting on this issue. However, Azerbaijan's important Muslim population may prevent them from changing their vote. USUN recommends urging Azerbaijan to join EU member states in abstaining. Monaco- Abstained in the Fourth Committee. Monaco did so as well in the 61st and 60th plenaries. USUN suggests encouraging Monaco to vote no. Turkey- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In the 61st and 60th plenary Turkey voted yes. USUN recommends urging Turkey to join EU member states in abstaining. SCA -------------- Nepal- Did not vote in the Fourth Committee. However, in the 61st plenary as well as the 60th plenary Nepal voted yes. USUN spoke with the PR who said they plan not to vote in the plenary. Embassy may wish to meet with ministry to reaffirm position. Bhutan- Did not vote in the Fourth Committee. However, in the 61st plenary Bhutan voted yes. USUN expects them not to vote in the plenary. Maldives- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary they voted yes. USUN will encourage them to abstain or not to vote. That same message could be delivered to their Foreign Ministry. WHA -------------- Colombia- Abstained in the Fourth Committee vote. In the 61st plenary Colombia abstained, however in the 60th plenary voted yes. USUN suggests thanking the GOC for its abstention and look forward to their support in the GA plenary. Dominican Republic- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee vote. In the 61st as well as the 62nd plenary the Dominican Republic abstained. USUN is hopeful with their encouragement in capital the D.R. will reverse vote in Fourth Committee and return to abstention. Bahamas- Did not vote in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary the Bahamas abstained. This year they voted with the US on all Third Committee country-specific human rights resolutions. USUN believes that with an approach in capital we could secure an abstention in the plenary. Haiti- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary they abstained. USUN suggests an approach in capital could help change the vote to abstention for the plenary. USUN NEW Y 00001108 003 OF 003 Jamaica- Voted yes in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary they voted yes. Jamaica's new government may be more approachable on these issues. It will, however, require instructions from capital to turn this vote to abstention. Trinidad and Tobago- Did not vote in the Fourth Committee. In both the 61st and 60th plenary they voted yes. USUN suggests an approach in capital to urge abstention. Khalilzad