GOB WILL OPPOSE NO ACTION VOTES IN THIRD COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000989 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA, IO, AND AF/S ADDIS FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL SU BC SUBJECT: GOB WILL OPPOSE NO ACTION VOTES IN THIRD COMMITTEE REF: STATE 117848 Classified By: DCM Philip R. Drouin; Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) In a meeting November 12 with PolOff, Director of the Department of Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mmamosadinyana Punkie Josephine Molefe stated that Botswana will oppose all no-action motions concerning Iran, Burma and the DPRK expected to arise during Third Committee UNGA meetings in November. The Director could not confirm how Botswana would vote regarding the substantive resolutions. She said Botswana would have to consider facts presented during the open debates. PolOff conveyed positions held by the United States and encouraged Botswana to either abstain from the resolutions or vote in favor of them. ¶2. (C) When asked why Botswana was moving from its prior position on the no-action motions, the Director stated that in years past Botswana felt the selection of countries singled out in the United Nations for human rights abuses was more random and that one couldn't rule out that the selections were, at least partly, politically motivated. However, the Director stated that now with the UN's Universal Periodic Review Process (UPR),the fact that all countries are evaluated made the process of selecting countries cited for human rights violations unbiased. Therefore, Botswana would welcome open debate on the merits of the resolutions. PolOff expressed USG gratitude for Botswana's cooperation in voting against the no-action motions. ¶3. (C) The Director expressed concern that PolOff was not directed to seek support for votes on human rights actions regarding Sudan. PolOff informed the Director that the USG is very concerned with the situation in Sudan and was monitoring it closely. The Director stated that Botswana would oppose any no-action motions for Sudan and would likely vote in favor of a resolution against Sudan. The Director said that countries "need to hold Bashir's feet to the fire" and that letting him off now would do a lot of harm. NOLAN