CONTACT POLICY FOR THE 63RD UNGA

UNCLAS STATE 098963 SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OFDP PREL UNGA SUBJECT: CONTACT POLICY FOR THE 63RD UNGA ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) USUN personnel and TDY personnel representing the U.S. government at the UN are requested to adhere to the guidelines below in official and social interactions with governments and entities that require special treatment. (These guidelines do not affect necessary contacts with the missions of these governments and entities with respect to ongoing host country responsibilities, e.g., visas, travel restrictions). ¶3. (SBU) In general, substantive contacts should not be initiated with delegates from Cuba, Syria, Iran, and North Korea. However, contacts are permitted in the conduct of UN business, e.g., working with the chairman of a committee or working group from one of these countries. ¶4. (SBU) In general, social invitations should not be issued to delegates from Cuba, Iran, Syria, Burma, North Korea, Sudan, Eritrea, Mauritania and Zimbabwe. In addition, for purposes of UNGA only, social invitations should not be issued to delegates from Venezuela and Bolivia. USUN and TDY personnel should be especially sensitive to this guidance and should exclude any delegates from these countries from social functions held on U.S. property, i.e., USUN or the Perm Rep's official residence. ¶5. (SBU) USUN and TDY personnel may not accept invitations to luncheons, receptions or dinners hosted by the countries identified in paras 3 and 4 above for purely social purposes. There is, however, no prohibition against attending functions that are specifically related to UN business, e.g., a luncheon of a bureau or a committee. Further, there is no prohibition against attending receptions or other events hosted by member states where it is known that representatives of these countries will be present. USUN and TDY personnel should not initiate contact with delegates of the countries listed in the first sentence of paragraph 4. ¶6. (SBU) Additional guidance follows: Russia: The Secretary has publicly said that we should not engage in "business as usual" with Russia following Russian military action in Georgia. Bilateral contact with Russian officials for purely social, representational, ceremonial and non-essential diplomatic purposes should therefore be avoided. However, U.S. officials should maintain diplomatic contacts with Russian counterparts on UN issues when it serves the broader U.S. national interest, such as on UN Security Council, Quartet, humanitarian relief, management, and security/political issues. Refer questions for more specific guidance to EUR/RUS Daphne Stavropoulos and IO/UNP Susan Edmondson. Belarus: Contact with the Belarus delegation should be avoided for purely social purposes. There is, however, no prohibition on contact for UN business. PLO: Regular and substantive contact with PA officials and ministries is permitted for USUN and TDY personnel. This includes continued contact with PA entities and with the PLO. PLO and PA members may be invited to representational events. No contact is allowed, however, with any Palestinian who is in any way affiliated with a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO),including HAMAS, or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, etc. Taiwan: Taiwan representatives may not be invited to functions of an official nature or to functions held on U.S. official premises. USUN and TDY personnel may accept invitations to private functions hosted by Taiwan representatives either in restaurants or their homes. Invitations may not be accepted to "official" premises. USUN personnel may host Taiwan representatives at private functions at restaurants or in their homes except for the U.S. Perm Rep's residence. RICE