Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE101434
2008-09-23 15:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RELEASE OF THE 2008
how-toVZCZCXRO9602 PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #1434 2671529 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 231525Z SEP 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 3855 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 101434
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KDEM OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RELEASE OF THE 2008
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT
UNCLAS STATE 101434
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KDEM OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RELEASE OF THE 2008
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT
1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on September 25.
Begin text:
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
On Friday, September 19, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
transmitted to the United States Congress the 10th annual
United States Report on International Religious Freedom. We
hope this report will serve as a useful resource for
delegations and the OSCE Secretariat.
In her remarks at the release of the report, Secretary Rice
said that &Religious freedom is at the core of our nation,
now as always." The rights to freedom of thought,
conscience, religion, expression, and assembly are essentials
enshrined in the founding documents of our country,
particularly in the Bill of Rights. These rights are also
essential guiding principles for this Organization. The
annual report highlights both the admirable protections, and
the unjust violations, of religious freedom across the globe.
Our focus is on government policies and actions, but we also
highlight societal attitudes and abuses. In the OSCE region,
the report reflects some troubling trends, including
religious groups having difficulties in registration,
securing places of worship and facing discrimination by
government sanctioned denominations, as well as concerns
about police raids and arrests for peaceful religious
activity. We look forward to the Special Day on Freedom of
Religion or Belief at the Human Dimension Implementation
Meeting in Warsaw next week for a more complete discussion of
these problems.
OSCE participating States should reject actions that are
offensive to particular religious traditions, but we cannot
condone the prohibition of free expression. We welcome the
opportunity to collaborate on initiatives that both respect
human rights and foster a climate of religious tolerance. But
we should be equally wary of efforts to criminalize
statements or publications deemed offensive to a particular
religion. Although such efforts may be aimed at protecting
religious practice and promoting tolerance, in reality they
may have the effect of limiting freedom of expression
Through our bilateral relationships, our work in
international fora, and our ongoing engagement with NGOs,
religious groups, civil society leaders, and scholars, the
United States will continue to actively promote religious
freedom for all as essential to human dignity, a robust civil
society, and democratic development.
The English language version of the report can be found at
the following website:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index .htm
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
End text.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KDEM OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RELEASE OF THE 2008
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT
1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on September 25.
Begin text:
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
On Friday, September 19, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
transmitted to the United States Congress the 10th annual
United States Report on International Religious Freedom. We
hope this report will serve as a useful resource for
delegations and the OSCE Secretariat.
In her remarks at the release of the report, Secretary Rice
said that &Religious freedom is at the core of our nation,
now as always." The rights to freedom of thought,
conscience, religion, expression, and assembly are essentials
enshrined in the founding documents of our country,
particularly in the Bill of Rights. These rights are also
essential guiding principles for this Organization. The
annual report highlights both the admirable protections, and
the unjust violations, of religious freedom across the globe.
Our focus is on government policies and actions, but we also
highlight societal attitudes and abuses. In the OSCE region,
the report reflects some troubling trends, including
religious groups having difficulties in registration,
securing places of worship and facing discrimination by
government sanctioned denominations, as well as concerns
about police raids and arrests for peaceful religious
activity. We look forward to the Special Day on Freedom of
Religion or Belief at the Human Dimension Implementation
Meeting in Warsaw next week for a more complete discussion of
these problems.
OSCE participating States should reject actions that are
offensive to particular religious traditions, but we cannot
condone the prohibition of free expression. We welcome the
opportunity to collaborate on initiatives that both respect
human rights and foster a climate of religious tolerance. But
we should be equally wary of efforts to criminalize
statements or publications deemed offensive to a particular
religion. Although such efforts may be aimed at protecting
religious practice and promoting tolerance, in reality they
may have the effect of limiting freedom of expression
Through our bilateral relationships, our work in
international fora, and our ongoing engagement with NGOs,
religious groups, civil society leaders, and scholars, the
United States will continue to actively promote religious
freedom for all as essential to human dignity, a robust civil
society, and democratic development.
The English language version of the report can be found at
the following website:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/index .htm
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
End text.
RICE