DEMARCHES ON UNESCO, IRAN, SOMALIA, KOSOVO

S E C R E T KIGALI 000856 SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AF, ISN, NEA AND T E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNESCO PHUM KPKO PARM RW SUBJECT: DEMARCHES ON UNESCO, IRAN, SOMALIA, KOSOVO DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 131164 ¶B. STATE 130915 ¶C. STATE 129524 ¶D. STATE 129098 ¶E. STATE 127443 Classified By: DCM Cheryl Sim for reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel demarches to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Multilateral and Bilateral Relations Director Kato Ninyetegeka on December 15. On the UNESCO candidacy of Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Kosni (ref B),Ninyetegeka reacted immediately to the information on Kosni's call for the burning of Israeli books, saying such remarks constituted a form of "cultural genocide" inappropriate to the UNESCO Director-General position. "He should not be the top candidate," said Ninyetegeka. Waiting for the appearance of other candidates appeared a reasonable strategy, he agreed. ¶2. (S) On the two Iran demarches (refs A and D), Ninyetegeka said that Rwanda would carefully consider the merits of the human rights resolution. He noted, as he and other Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials have in the past, that Rwanda had a "skeletal" delegation at the UN, and often missed votes on issues not directly connected to Rwanda's regional and developmental interests. On defense cooperation with Iran, Ninyetegeka said Rwanda respected UN Security Council resolutions, and would not access Iranian arms or related material given that existing prohibition. (Note: Post is not aware of any defense cooperation programs between the two nations. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) On Somalia and the prospect for transforming AMISOM into a UN peacekeeping force (Ref C),Ninyetegeka suggested Somalia's immediate neighbors could do more to help peace and stability there; however, he added that Rwanda would be generally supportive of "anything that contributes to peace," including a UN peacekeeping force. ¶4. (SBU) On recognizing Kosovo's independence (ref E), Ninyetegeka said Rwanda would carefully consider whether the time had come to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state, but this would require a decision at the highest levels of the government, and he could not make a commitment. SYMINGTON