Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA53
2008-01-24 10:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS SUPPORTS "BALANCED" UNHRC GAZA RESOLUTION
how-toVZCZCXRO9842 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHNC #0053 0241028 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241028Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8524 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0231 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1058 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 0259 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 6426 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 1916
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS SUPPORTS "BALANCED" UNHRC GAZA RESOLUTION
REF: A. SECSTATE 7232
B. 06 NICOSIA 929
C. 06 NICOSIA 945
Classified By: CDA Jane B. Zimmerman, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS SUPPORTS "BALANCED" UNHRC GAZA RESOLUTION
REF: A. SECSTATE 7232
B. 06 NICOSIA 929
C. 06 NICOSIA 945
Classified By: CDA Jane B. Zimmerman, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Polchief January 24 delivered urgent Ref A demarche
to MFA Acting Political Director (P-equivalent) George
Kasoulides. He emphasized the strongly biased nature of the
proposed UN Human Rights Council resolution on Gaza, and
urged the MFA official to work towards EU consensus in
opposing it. Kasoulides was aware the OIC and/or Arab states
were considering action at the UNHRC, and repeated Ref A
points that EU PermReps in Geneva had lobbied for a more
constructive resolution. He was surprised by the timing of
the special session, however, and had not yet seen the
OIC/Arab Group's final text.
2. (SBU) Israel's latest blockade of Gaza was "over the top"
and merited criticism, he opined. That said, Cyprus normally
favored balanced resolutions on the Israeli/Palestinian
dispute, since it enjoyed close relations with both sides and
hoped they would engage soonest in serious settlement
negotiations. Kasoulides welcomed our offer to forward the
resolution text for MFA study. While he could not speak for
Foreign Minister Erato Marcoullis, who would determine the
government's position, he was confident Cyprus would "push
for balance."
3. (C) COMMENT: Cyprus has staked balanced, sometimes
pro-Israel positions in the past. Enjoying strong ties to
both Israelis and Palestinians, it believes it can play a
role in bringing peace to the region, and sought to
participate in the Annapolis Conference (Ref B). At the same
time, however, Cyprus has not shied from bashing the Jewish
state in UN fora, evidenced recently by its support for
extending the mandate of the plainly anti-Israel Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People (Ref C). We therefore don't expect the Cypriots to
push their EU mates too hard toward a consensus position
opposing this latest resolution.
ZIMMERMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS SUPPORTS "BALANCED" UNHRC GAZA RESOLUTION
REF: A. SECSTATE 7232
B. 06 NICOSIA 929
C. 06 NICOSIA 945
Classified By: CDA Jane B. Zimmerman, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Polchief January 24 delivered urgent Ref A demarche
to MFA Acting Political Director (P-equivalent) George
Kasoulides. He emphasized the strongly biased nature of the
proposed UN Human Rights Council resolution on Gaza, and
urged the MFA official to work towards EU consensus in
opposing it. Kasoulides was aware the OIC and/or Arab states
were considering action at the UNHRC, and repeated Ref A
points that EU PermReps in Geneva had lobbied for a more
constructive resolution. He was surprised by the timing of
the special session, however, and had not yet seen the
OIC/Arab Group's final text.
2. (SBU) Israel's latest blockade of Gaza was "over the top"
and merited criticism, he opined. That said, Cyprus normally
favored balanced resolutions on the Israeli/Palestinian
dispute, since it enjoyed close relations with both sides and
hoped they would engage soonest in serious settlement
negotiations. Kasoulides welcomed our offer to forward the
resolution text for MFA study. While he could not speak for
Foreign Minister Erato Marcoullis, who would determine the
government's position, he was confident Cyprus would "push
for balance."
3. (C) COMMENT: Cyprus has staked balanced, sometimes
pro-Israel positions in the past. Enjoying strong ties to
both Israelis and Palestinians, it believes it can play a
role in bringing peace to the region, and sought to
participate in the Annapolis Conference (Ref B). At the same
time, however, Cyprus has not shied from bashing the Jewish
state in UN fora, evidenced recently by its support for
extending the mandate of the plainly anti-Israel Committee on
the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People (Ref C). We therefore don't expect the Cypriots to
push their EU mates too hard toward a consensus position
opposing this latest resolution.
ZIMMERMAN