BURKINA FASO AGREES TO VOTE AGAINST NO-ACTION MOTION ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 001027


DEPT FOR AF/W DORSEY LOCKHART
DRL FOR MEIKLE A. YETKEN
USUN FOR GERALD SCOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2018
TAGS: PREL IR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO AGREES TO VOTE AGAINST NO-ACTION MOTION ON IRAN

REF: A) OUAGADOUGO 1019; B) STATE 117848

Classified by Samuel C. Laeuchli, Deputy Chief of Mission, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On November 17, DCM and POLOFF discussed Burkina Faso's
potential vote on a no-action motion for the resolution on Iran (Ref
B.) with Vincent Zakane, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MOFA). Also in attendance was newly appointed MOFA Director
General of Multilateral Affairs, Der Kogda. This meeting was a
follow-up to the initial demarche Ambassador Jackson delivered on
this topic to Zakane last week (Ref A.). Zakane explained that,
after careful consideration, Burkina Faso had decided to support the
U.S. position. Zakane assured the DCM that Burkina Faso would vote
against the no-action motion on the Iran resolution, and if there is
discussion on Iran's human rights record and a resolution is voted,
Burkina Faso will vote with us on the final resolution. Zakane added
that the Burkina Faso Ambassador to the U.N. has already been given
these instructions.


2. (C) COMMENT: Burkina Faso's full support for the final resolution
on Iran will likely depend on the exact language, as Zakane said that
he was looking forward to a text that was not too critical.

JACKSON