BANGLADESH SYMPATHETIC BUT NON-COMMITTAL ON

UNCLAS DHAKA 001219 SIPDIS IO/UNP FOR ANDREW MORRISON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BG IS PGOV PHUM PREL SUBJECT: BANGLADESH SYMPATHETIC BUT NON-COMMITTAL ON OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS REF: 123081 ¶1. (U) On Sunday November 23, PolOff met with Sakib Sadakat, Assistant Secretary UN and Human Rights Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to convey reftel points. We conveyed our support for a two state solution in the Middle East and our view that these resolutions are repetitive and unbalanced; unfairly targeting a single state. Moreover we explained that such actions undermine the institutional credibility of the UN. The Assistant Secretary stated that the Government of Bangladesh desires improved relations with Israel but is constrained in its voting patterns by domestic politics and the country,s membership in international groupings like the Organization of the Islamic Conference. He added that such decisions are typically made at the level of the Foreign Secretary or Foreign Advisor after taking these and other factors into account. Post will continue to follow up with the Foreign Ministry on this issue and reiterate the USG position that supporting such resolutions will only undermine prospects for a lasting and durable solution in the Middle East. Moriarty