BRUNEI NON-COMMITTAL BUT UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000252 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL BX SUBJECT: BRUNEI NON-COMMITTAL BUT UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT 2008 UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES REF: SECSTATE 93981 Classified By: DCM JOHN MCINTYRE FOR REASONS 1.4(b) AND (d) ¶1. (C) DCM met with Florence Chong, Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT),International Organizations Division on September 15th. Post was unable to meet earlier with the MFAT and had wistfully hoped that GoB would have decisive opinions on the 2008 UNGA Third Committee Human Rights Priorities. Those hopes were not realized. GoB is likely to follow their previous voting behavior on no-action votes, resolutions on Iran, Burma, DPKK, and are likely to vote with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) countries on the religious defamation and freedom of expression resolutions. When pressed, Chong noted that Brunei would consider each no-action vote individually, which may offer a glimmer of hope for moving GoB away from supporting no-action votes or simply abstaining. It is likely GoB will abstain from voting on resolutions on Iran, Burma, DPKK. Chong was fairly confident GoB would vote with the OIC countries on all resolutions regarding religious defamation, freedom of expression, etc. Overall, the GoB will likely take a wait and see attitude and then simply abstain from voting on any significant and/or controversial decisions. TODD