Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA2061
2009-11-16 17:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA LIKELY TO REPEAT LAST YEAR'S VOTES ON UNGA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUJA #2061 3201704 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161704Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7478 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0161 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0430
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002061
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS, AF/W, AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA LIKELY TO REPEAT LAST YEAR'S VOTES ON UNGA
HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS
REF: STATE 116265
Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002061
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS, AF/W, AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA LIKELY TO REPEAT LAST YEAR'S VOTES ON UNGA
HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS
REF: STATE 116265
Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) PolOff delivered demarche (Reftel) to Nigerian
Foreign Ministry (MFA) North and Central American Affairs
Acting Director Rabia Shehu November 16. PolOff encouraged
the Nigerian Government (GON) to vote against no-action
motions on country specific human rights resolutions at the
upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Third
Committee, or at least abstain as the GON had done previously
on a no-action motion and resolution on Iran. Shehu,
responding that "abstention is often a show of support," said
he would confer with MFA Permanent Secretary Ambassador Joe
Keshi and MFA International Organizations Director Ambassador
M. K. Ibrahim regarding GON votes on Iran, Burma, and North
Korea (DPRK) resolutions. Shehu added that, while Ambassador
Ibrahim "makes the decision," he understood that Nigeria's
Permanent Representative Ambassador Joy Ogwu enjoyed a "very
good working relationship" with U.S. Permanent Representative
Ambassador Rice.
2. (SBU) Embassy plans to follow up with Ambassador Ibrahim
and his deputy John Gana, both of whom recently returned from
the UNGA.
3. (C) Canadian Political Counselor Vicken Koundakjian had
earlier told PolOff that his High Commissioner Denis Kingsley
delivered a similar demarche to Ambassador Keshi around
November 12 and that Swedish Ambassador Per Lindgarde had
done the same with Ambassador Ibrahim on European Union
resolutions on Burma and the DPRK. PolOff echoed to Shehu
USG support for the Canadian and EU initiatives.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) With these multi-sided demarches, we expect that the
GON will at least repeat -- if not improve on -- last year's
record. The GON will likely abstain on all no-action motions
and on the Iran and DPRK resolutions when they come up for a
vote. In 2007 and 2008, the GON voted in favor of the Burma
resolution, and we anticipate a similar vote this year. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS, AF/W, AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA LIKELY TO REPEAT LAST YEAR'S VOTES ON UNGA
HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS
REF: STATE 116265
Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) PolOff delivered demarche (Reftel) to Nigerian
Foreign Ministry (MFA) North and Central American Affairs
Acting Director Rabia Shehu November 16. PolOff encouraged
the Nigerian Government (GON) to vote against no-action
motions on country specific human rights resolutions at the
upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Third
Committee, or at least abstain as the GON had done previously
on a no-action motion and resolution on Iran. Shehu,
responding that "abstention is often a show of support," said
he would confer with MFA Permanent Secretary Ambassador Joe
Keshi and MFA International Organizations Director Ambassador
M. K. Ibrahim regarding GON votes on Iran, Burma, and North
Korea (DPRK) resolutions. Shehu added that, while Ambassador
Ibrahim "makes the decision," he understood that Nigeria's
Permanent Representative Ambassador Joy Ogwu enjoyed a "very
good working relationship" with U.S. Permanent Representative
Ambassador Rice.
2. (SBU) Embassy plans to follow up with Ambassador Ibrahim
and his deputy John Gana, both of whom recently returned from
the UNGA.
3. (C) Canadian Political Counselor Vicken Koundakjian had
earlier told PolOff that his High Commissioner Denis Kingsley
delivered a similar demarche to Ambassador Keshi around
November 12 and that Swedish Ambassador Per Lindgarde had
done the same with Ambassador Ibrahim on European Union
resolutions on Burma and the DPRK. PolOff echoed to Shehu
USG support for the Canadian and EU initiatives.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) With these multi-sided demarches, we expect that the
GON will at least repeat -- if not improve on -- last year's
record. The GON will likely abstain on all no-action motions
and on the Iran and DPRK resolutions when they come up for a
vote. In 2007 and 2008, the GON voted in favor of the Burma
resolution, and we anticipate a similar vote this year. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS