JAMAICA: RESOLUTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000957 SIPDIS DRL/MLGA - LYNN SICADE, ALLISON GRUNDER, DAN O'CONNOR WHA/CAR - ANDRE CADIEUX IO/RHS - REBECCA JOVIN INL/G-TIP - STEPHANIE KRONENBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PARM SOCI MASS EFIN ECON EAID SENV, PBTS, UN, JM, XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: RESOLUTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN, BURMA, AND DPRK; PRIORITY ISSUES DURING 63RD UNGA REF: A. STATE 118278 (061419Z NOV 08) ¶B. KINGSTON 838 (222030Z SEP 08) ¶C. KINGSTON 807 (121845Z SEP 08) ¶D. STATE 95334 (051845Z SEP 08) Classified By: Amb. Brenda L. Johnson, Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) Summary -------------- 1.(C) Jamaica appears likely to continue to abstain on country-specific human rights resolutions and on "no-action" motions in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Government of Jamaica (GoJ)'s position paper for the 63rd UNGA reflects its long-standing orientation toward a broad G-77, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) agenda. End Summary. 2.(SBU) Per reftel (A),Ambassador, accompanied by PolOff, delivered demarche to Ambassador Gail Mathurin, the Permanent Secretary of the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),on the morning of November 12. 3.(C) Mathurin listened politely, and then responded by saying that Jamaica is still considering issues of the Third Committee and "is aware of the U.S. position;" however, she said she "doesn't expect to see a change in Jamaica's position." Poloff reiterated to Mathurin that, whatever the decision on the final human rights resolutions in question, the U.S. hoped Jamaica would oppose no-action motions and permit a substantive discussion of the issues. In the discussion on the HR Council, PolOff noted that one reason the U.S. declined to participate was concern over the human rights records of some of the member countries, and these were long-term concerns that reached across U.S. administrations. 4.(C) Mathurin then asked whether the U.S. might reconsider participation in the UN Human Rights Council under a new administration. She assessed that many member nations, including developed countries, were encouraged by the progress to date in the Council. Ambassador said she would pass the question of the U.S. stance on the Council to the Department. Mathurin also said she hoped the Summit of the Americas would allow the region to come together and agree to assist/support Haiti, and said she also appreciated Washington's hosting the G-20 meeting on the economic crisis. She expressed hope that budget constraints would not impede the GOJ s plans to open an Embassy in Haiti. Jamaica's Priorities for 63rd UNGA -------------- 5.(SBU) Under cover of a diplomatic note from the MFAFT dated October 25, the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has provided post a 29-page paper entitled "Jamaica's Priority Issues, 63rd United Nations General Assembly, New York, September-December 2008," which outlines the GoJ's priorities within the context of the main committees of the UNGA as follows: (A) First Committee -------------- -- General Disarmament: "a renewed commitment to the goal of general and complete disarmament," support for holding the 4th Special Session of the UNGA on Disarmament (SSPD IV),and advocacy of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). -- Terrorism: preventing spread, addressing root causes, not at expense of human rights and freedoms; progress on consensus of the definition of terrorism. -- Illicit Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons: advocacy of "a legally binding instrument" for "stricter control over the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons." -- Arms Trade Treaty: support for "a comprehensive arms trade treaty that embraces, inter alia, the export, re-export, import, transfer, transit and trans-shipment of all conventional arms, including arms' parts, components and ammunition and the technology for their manufacture." (B) Second Committee -------------- -- Development Agenda: strengthened coordination of Economic and Social Council; "as part of our approach to Global Economic Governance...stress the necessity of national ownership of the development process; an open rather than limited approach to development which allows for equal attention to be paid to the broader global systemic issues which continue to negatively impact the development prospects of developing countries; and, a more active voice and effective participation by developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions so as to promote the legitimacy and relevance of the international financial system." -- Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): implementation of MDGs to contribute to sustainable development, poverty eradication, improvements in health, education, and debt reduction among other areas;" Jamaica has achieved MDG 2 (universal primary education),partially achieved MDG 6 (HIV/AIDS),is generally on track toward MDG 1 (eradicating extreme poverty and hunger) and MDG 7 (environmental sustainability "is lagging" in MDG3 (gender equality, empowering women),is "far behind" in MDG 4 (child mortality, maternal health),and is generally "on track in some areas" for MDG 8 (global partnerships). -- Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development: provision of "concrete commitments to support developing countries," to include concessionary financing through multilateral institutions and official development assistance (ODA) for middle-income countries. -- Middle Income Countries: should receive support from international community; International Financial Institutions (IFIs) should "tailor their approach to Heavily Indebted Middle Income Countries (HIMC) to focus on debt relief and disbursement of grants and loans." -- Small Island Developing States (SIDS): climate change, energy and food prices, remoteness, poverty, HIV/AIDS, institutional limitations, "brain-drain," debt burden, and erosion of trade preferences make SIDS particularly vulnerable; support for global reductions in emissions, cleaner and more efficient technologies, and greater financing/investment to boost agricultural production. (C) Third Committee -------------- -- Human Rights - General: "greater credence to the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency in the promotion, protection and full realisation of all human rights and fundamental freedoms." -- Country-Specific Human Rights Resolutions: "While it is clear that Jamaica does not support any form of human rights violation that are (sic) reportedly taking place in various countries, Jamaica will continue to review country-specific human rights resolutions on a case-by-case basis so that all relevant factors can be taken into account in deciding how to proceed on such resolutions. Accordingly, due regard will have to be given to the reports emanating from the Special Rapporteurs and Special Representatives, the scope of the relations between Jamaica and the concerned country, and efforts being pursued either bilaterally or regionally to address the situation. Jamaica usually abstains on no-action motions and on country-specific resolutions presented in the Third Committee, over concerns about the impartiality of the exercise and the need for a more conciliatory approach in the consideration of human rights questions." Of particular interest are possible resolutions on Zimbabwe, Darfur, and Myanmar. -- UN Human Rights Council: Jamaica supports, but believes real debate is constrained by the same level of mistrust that plagued the Commission on Human Rights. Jamaica support Universal Periodic Review (UPR). "It is imperative that the institutional relationship between the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council be speedily resolved...Jamaica sees merit in the report of the Council being considered by the Third Committee where it can be more thoroughly reviewed." -- Human Security: support for further discussion and proper definition of the concept. -- Death Penalty: "Jamaica maintains that International Law does not prohibit the death penalty and that the question of the death penalty falls unequivocally within the domestic jurisdiction of each State." -- Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance: support for efforts to combat; support for forthcoming Durban Review Conference. -- Human Trafficking: "Jamaica remains seized of the issue of human trafficking, both at the national and international levels. The National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons has sought to raise the profile of trafficking in persons through public education; to facilitate the training of police officers, immigration officials and the judiciary; and to recommend new legislation and establish protocols for intervention to help victims of trafficking...Legislation has been enacted to implement the provisions of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. A task force has been established to undertake a comprehensive review of the justice system and to develop strategies and mechanisms to facilitate the modernization of the justice system, including to ensure equal protection under the law and equal access to justice for women and girls." -- World Drug Problem: support for "a multi-faceted, integrated and balanced approach to tackling the problem, premised on the realisation that countering the international drug trade is a shared responsibility...Jamaica will continue to co-sponsor the resolution traditionally put forward by Mexico on the world drug problem." -- Women,s Issues: continued support for efforts and resolutions aimed at promoting the advancement and empowerment of women. -- Rights of the Child: continued support for the text of the omnibus resolution on the Rights of the Child that is jointly presented by GRULAC and the EU. (D) Fourth Committee -------------- -- Peacekeeping Operations: "Jamaica hopes to continue to provide troops to peacekeeping Missions in various parts of the world" - (Liberia, East Timor, and Sudan) (E) Fifth Committee -------------- -- "...Jamaica will continue to pay attention to issues emanating within the context of the Capital Master Plan, such as the erection of a permanent memorial to commemorate the victims of the transatlantic slave trade, to ensure that it is duly taken into account in the refurbishing of the UN building," as well as "the issue of equitable geographic representation" in discussions in the Committee, "particularly with respect to CARICOM nationals." 6.(SBU) A separate final section of the GoJ's paper outlines the following "Issues Without Reference to a Main Committee:" (A) UN Reform: should remedy deficiencies and strengthen the multilateral system so that it works for all Member States; equal attention should be given to institutional reform related to the social and economic fields and to advancing the development agenda, as well as to those related to the maintenance of international peace and security. Need for reform of working methods and expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of the UNSC. Need for revitalization of the General Assembly. (B) Haiti: Jamaica has agreed to deploy five civilian officers as part of the MINUSTAH contingent, and will soon open a resident mission. (C) Humanitarian Issues ) Natural Disasters, UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF): Jamaica has been hit by two major hurricanes in two years, and by four major storms in five years. Pre-disaster mitigation measures are the primary means of coping; support for the work of the CERF. (D) Candidatures: Jamaica will lobby support for membership on the Peacebuilding Commission, the Committee on Contributions, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. (E) Other Issues: -- Kosovo and Georgia: "While strongly supportive of the right to self-determination, Jamaica is mindful of the importance of abiding by the principles of international law and the position of the United Nations which grants formal recognition of statehood." -- Middle East Resolutions: "Jamaica has consistently supported the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in the region, pursuant to Security Council resolutions, in particular 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),which call on Israel to withdraw from territory it seized in 1967 and 1973. Jamaica has long held the view that lasting peace in the Middle East must be premised on the principle of land for peace, on a negotiated solution that recognizes the right of all states of the region, including Israel, to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, and on the right of Palestine to statehood. Jamaica's position is generally consistent with that of the overwhelming majority of the member states of the United Nations, both developed and developing countries. Any suggestion that support rendered in this regard is anti-Israel negates the important role of the international community in advancing the Middle East peace process, and undermines the sovereign right of states to determine their own foreign policy." 7.(SBU) Post will provide a copy of the full text of the GoJ's position paper to WHA/CAR. Johnson