UAE STILL NOT ENTHUSIASTIC TO PRESS HUMAN RIGHTS AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001306 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, IO/UNP, DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM IR MB KN AE SUBJECT: UAE STILL NOT ENTHUSIASTIC TO PRESS HUMAN RIGHTS AT UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE, BUT WILLING TO REVIEW REF: A) STATE 118150, B) ABU DHABI 1004 Classified by DCM Doug Greene, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) POL Chief pressed ref A points with MFA Director for International Organizations Yacub al-Hosani on November 13, emphasizing the need for a principled stand against "no action" motions that prevent a vital review of human rights violations and the need to address the severe human rights abuses of Iran, Burma, and the DPRK. Al-Hosani reminded us that the UAEG prefers not to engage too aggressively on such issues (ref B) or counter the consensus of groups like the NAM and the OIC. When we encouraged MFA to at least abstain where it could not vote in our favor, al-Hosani committed to sharing the points with the UAE Mission in New York for another review. ¶2. (SBU) POL Chief shared discussion papers cited in ref A (from io.state.gov) on the poor human rights records of the three nations in question. Al-Hosani was very appreciative of the background information. OLSON