UNGA DEMARCHE: SENEGALESE FOREIGN MINISTER OPEN TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 001036 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA AND INR/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL UN SG SUBJECT: UNGA DEMARCHE: SENEGALESE FOREIGN MINISTER OPEN TO DISCUSS RESOLUTION LANGUAGE REF: STATE 93981 DAKAR 00001036 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Amb Marcia Bernicat for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action message. Please see para 6. ¶2. (C) Summary: Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio on August 4. He responded enthusiastically that the United States and Senegal could work together to find points of commonality to yield mutually beneficial results at this year,s UN General Assembly (UNGA). Referring to their votes at last year,s UNGA, the Foreign Minister said that Senegal,s hosting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) played a major role in formulating their policies. He cautioned, however, that President Wade has the final say on Senegal,s UNGA votes. End Summary ¶3. (C) Concerning country specific resolutions Foreign Minister Gadio was fairly candid about Senegal,s intentions: --Iran: Senegal will not vote in favor of any resolution condemning Iran. Gadio said that they had expended a lot of effort to build a relationship of trust and that if Senegal were to condemn Iran in the international fora, that relationship would be wrecked. He contended that maintaining an open channel with Iran was far more useful to the U.S., for whom Senegal can convey messages to Tehran. --Burma and DPRK: Gadio said that Senegal could support resolutions against both countries this year, especially after the Burmese junta,s atrocious response in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. --Zimbabwe: Claiming that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai calls everyday and characterizing Mugabe as being uncooperative, Gadio agreed that a carefully crafted text that was not critical could spur a resolution to the crisis. He also expressed frustration at the slow speed of South African President Thabo Mbeki,s mediations. --Sudan: Reminding us that Senegal had soldiers in Sudan, Gadio said that they had to tread very carefully in dealing with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, who was already angry with a recent decision by the International Criminal Court to charge him with genocide. However, he thought that a resolution calling attention to human rights violations in Darfur, as well as condemning the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed was something Senegal might/might be able to support. ¶3. (C) In comparison to his statements concerning country specific resolutions, Gadio used the abstract when discussing Senegal,s possible support of thematic resolutions, saying that different countries have very different interpretations of concepts such as freedom of speech. He then suggested that officers from the Embassy and the Foreign Ministry,s Division of International Organizations meet to discuss language for this and the other resolutions raised in the demarche. In reply to a question about the Defamation of Religion resolution, the Foreign Minister said that since Senegal held the rotational Presidency of the OIC it would be difficult to go against the collective. However, he requested a copy of the European Union,s Religious Intolerance resolution agreeing that perhaps a broader approach respecting all religions and focusing on common values might yield better results. Gadio agreed that a follow up action to the June declaration on Prisoners of Conscience would be useful. ¶5. (C) Comment: The Foreign Minister was in an expansive mood and said the right things. However, it must be noted that last year he also agreed that Senegal could coordinate its positions more closely with the U.S. and then Senegal voted in opposition or abstained on all the aforementioned resolutions. It is our estimation that Senegal will not/not support any anti-Iran resolutions, but might be persuaded to vote in favor of condemning Human Rights abuses in Burma and DPRK. President Wade prefers negotiation over direct confrontation, therefore it would be collaborate, to the extent possible, with the Senegalese to develop resolution language on both Sudan and Zimbabwe that is constructive and non-critical. While he left the door open on a possible discussion concerning the Defamation of Religion resolution, DAKAR 00001036 002.2 OF 002 we believe that it is unlikely that Senegal will vote against the OIC. ¶6. (C) Action Request: Post requests that IO prepare or issue guidelines as to the latest proposed language that the United States plans to use in the various aforementioned resolutions. Foreign Minister Gadio said that he and President Wade had yet to crystallize Senegal,s positions and were open to discussions with us. BERNICAT