Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CAIRO2341
2008-11-12 13:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PASSING THE RESOLUTION ON
how-toVZCZCXRO8869 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #2341 3171327 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121327Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0837 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1792 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0234
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002341
SIPDIS
FOR NEA, DRL AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM IR BM KN EG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PASSING THE RESOLUTION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN
REF: A. STATE 118150
B. CAIRO 2037
Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
(C) We delivered ref A demarche November 12 to MFA Deputy
Assistant Minister for Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd who
committed to taking U.S. views into consideration, but
emphasized that the GOE's "principled position" opposing
country specific human rights resolutions remains standing
policy. Aboulmagd said the GOE favors the country specific
reports under the Universal Periodic Review, as opposed to
UNGA Third Committee resolutions which the GOE views as
"politicized" and designed to "embarrass" certain countries.
We pressed for the GOE to abstain or be absent from the
no-action motion votes instead of voting in favor, and to
abstain or be absent from the resolution votes instead of
voting against. We also noted that in 2007 a number of Arab
countries voted with the U.S. on the Burma and DPRK
resolutions and the Burma no-action motion, or were absent or
abstained from the Iran votes. Aboulmagd replied that other
Arab countries usually follow Egypt's lead, not the reverse.
SCOBEY
SIPDIS
FOR NEA, DRL AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PHUM IR BM KN EG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PASSING THE RESOLUTION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN
REF: A. STATE 118150
B. CAIRO 2037
Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
(C) We delivered ref A demarche November 12 to MFA Deputy
Assistant Minister for Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd who
committed to taking U.S. views into consideration, but
emphasized that the GOE's "principled position" opposing
country specific human rights resolutions remains standing
policy. Aboulmagd said the GOE favors the country specific
reports under the Universal Periodic Review, as opposed to
UNGA Third Committee resolutions which the GOE views as
"politicized" and designed to "embarrass" certain countries.
We pressed for the GOE to abstain or be absent from the
no-action motion votes instead of voting in favor, and to
abstain or be absent from the resolution votes instead of
voting against. We also noted that in 2007 a number of Arab
countries voted with the U.S. on the Burma and DPRK
resolutions and the Burma no-action motion, or were absent or
abstained from the Iran votes. Aboulmagd replied that other
Arab countries usually follow Egypt's lead, not the reverse.
SCOBEY