TURKEY: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001636 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES REF: A. SECSTATE 93981 ¶B. ANKARA 1550 Classified By: POL Counselor Daniel O'Grady, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (SBU) On September 4 we solicited from MFA Acting Head of Department for Council of Europe and Human Rights Yonca Sunel GOT support for U.S. priority country-specific and thematic resolutions that will be offered, urged Turkey to vote against the Defamation of Religions resolution, and sought GOT views on the other resolutions noted in ref A that may be offered or debated at the UNGA Third Committee. Sunel offered no specific responses, but said MFA would consider carefully each issue. She promised to convey our points to MFA's UN department as well as to the specific departments managing bilateral RELATIONS with the countries that are subject to planned or possible country-specific resolutions. We will follow up to solicit GOT support on our Third Committee priorities. ¶2. (C) We also reached out separately to departments managing bilateral RELATIONS with Iran, Africa, North Korea and Burma: -- Iran: MFA DDG for South Asia and Iran Babur Hizlan told us September 3 that Turkey will continue its past practice of not voting at all -- neither voting in favor, nor opposing, nor abstaining -- on a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. The GOT does not wish to oppose a U.S. and EU priority resolution but wishes to avoid antagonizing a neighboring state. Its position is unpopular with Tehran and, Hizlan recognized, with us. -- Sudan/Zimbabwe: MFA Africa Section Head Aykut Kumbaroglu told us September 12 that Turkey will make a decision on any possible Sudan or Zimbabwe resolution when it receives the draft resolutions in writing. He noted that Turkey-Sudan ties are fairly well-developed, but that Turkish interests in Zimbabwe are few (implying Ankara would be unlikely to oppose a Zimbabwe resolution, but would have to consider a Sudan resolution more carefully). (COMMENT: The GOT took a far too "business-as-usual" approach with Bashir when he visited Istanbul in August for a Turkey-hosted African Union Summit (see ref B). Turkey is trying to deepen POLITICAL and economic ties in Africa, not least in an effort to secure support for its 2009 UNSC bid. We would have to urge GOT support for a resolution condemning the dire situation of human rights in Sudan, if one is introduced. END COMMENT.) -- Burma/North Korea: On September 11 we conveyed our support for resolutions on human rights in Burma and North Korea to MFA East Asia Section Head Zeynep Yilbas. She could not confirm GOT support, but promised to follow up with us. Turkey supported last year's resolutions on human rights in Burma and North Korea, and we expect it will again. Turkish bilateral RELATIONS with both are limited and we have no reason to believe Turkey will have altered its view on the human rights situation in those two countries. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON