NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST: UN GENERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000292 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/RHS, PLEASE PASS TO REBECCA JOVIN, AND FOR DRL/MLGA, PLEASE PASS TO LYNN SICADE VILNIUS FOR MINSK (since MINSK is suspended) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES REF: SECSTATE 95334 Classified By: POLOFF GARY REX FOR REASONS 1.4(b) AND (d). ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel action request, on September 9 POLOFF met with Michael McBryde, deputy director of the United Nations and Human Rights Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). POLOFF and McBryde discussed each of the U.S. priorities contained within reftel. No-Action Motions -------------- ¶2. (C) McBryde stated that NZ agrees with the U.S. position opposing no-action motions. Country-Specific Resolutions -------------- ¶3. (C) According to McBryde, NZ agrees with and has also spoken out in favor of each of the country-specific resolutions outlined in reftel, with the exception of Belarus. With respect to Belarus, NZ is pleased with the government's release of political prisoners, but has not taken a position on any specific resolution relating to Belarus (McBryde noted that MFAT has not studied the situation in detail). With respect to Iran, McBryde stated that NZ has supported Canada's resolution in the past and plans to do so again. Thematic Resolutions -------------- ¶4. (C) With respect to defamation of religion resolutions, NZ is opposed to such resolutions according to McBryde. He said that NZ views such resolutions as a "slippery slope." ¶5. (C) With respect to prisoners of conscience, NZ originally joined the U.S. as one of the 64 sponsors of the UN declaration. McBryde stated that NZ would welcome the opportunity to follow-up on the declaration and he liked the ideas of highlighting the declaration at events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and on Human Rights Day. McCORMICK