OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

UNCLAS NIAMEY 001112 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA IS PA NG SUBJECT: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS REF: SECSTATE 123081 ¶1. Ambassador delivered reftel talking points on 11/24 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General (SG) Dan Maradi, in the absence of Foreign Minister Mindaoudou (out of the country),and left as an aide-memoire a list of the one-sided resolutions (reftel, paragraph six). With regard to the three committees cited in reftel, Ambassador informed the SG that the Government of Niger (GON) voted in favor of resolutions sustaining the three committees that consume resources and make no useful contribution to the Middle East peace process and the two-state solution. Ambassador then noted USG appreciation for the GON's movement closer to the USG position on a human rights related resolution on Iran (from "no" to abstention),its abstention on the motion to adjourn for a human rights related resolution on Myanmar (despite its inadvertent vote of "no" in the subsequent vote on the draft human rights resolution itself) and its abstention again this year on a human rights related resolution on DPRK. Ambassador emphasized that in the absence of supporting the U.S. position on draft UN resolutions, that it would be helpful for the GON to abstain or absent itself on votes. ¶2. SG Maradi responded that he recalled discussing the various human rights related resolutions (Iran, Myamar and DPRK) with the DCM (in his capacity as Acting Charge) some weeks ago. He said he wasn't aware the GON had made an error in its vote on the second Myamar resolution, but he believed corrections to votes could be made within 24 hours. (Note: Ambassador responded that it is unfortunate the announcement didn't change the official record. End note.) With regard to the many resolutions criticizing Israel, the SG reminded the Ambassador that the GON does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. He added that Niger's geography makes it difficult not to vote with certain neighboring countries, but stated he would phone the Nigerien Ambassador to the U.N. today (11/24) to discuss whether there is a way for Niger to be helpful in reducing the number of resolutions critical of Israel, such as through abstaining or absenting itself from such votes. ALLEN