AUSTRIAN POSITION ON OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS

UNCLAS VIENNA 001743 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNP ANDREW MORRISON AND EUR/CE JAIME LAMORE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY AT SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN POSITION ON OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH AN ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE REF: STATE 123081 Poloff reported information requested by reftel to Peter Huber, MFA Director of the Department for International Organizations. Huber told Poloff the demarche on anti-Israeli resolutions was an "annual ritual between our governments," and commented that the GOA has little control over the volume of anti-Israeli resolutions. He expressed his belief that the number of UNGA resolutions was in part a reflection of frustration by member states at the lack of progress in the Security Council. He said the GOA will review each UNGA resolution on a case-by-case basis before making a voting decision. However, the GOA considered these resolutions as part of the Middle East peace process, and when the GOA believed voting for a resolution could advance, or at least not damage, this process they would vote for it. On resolutions reaffirming the three UN bodies, he remarked that the GOA will consult with its EU partners on how to vote. (Note: In the 62nd UNGA the GOA abstained on resolutions 62/80 and 82/81, and voted yes on 62/106. End note) GIRARD-DICARLO