DEMARCHE WITH NIGERIA ON OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002096 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/UNP (MORRISON),AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL; E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019 TAGS: PREL UNGA KPAL NI SUBJECT: DEMARCHE WITH NIGERIA ON OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS REF: A. STATE 118799 ¶B. ABUJA 2061 (NOTAL) Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty for reasons on Sections 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Acting PolCouns delivered demarche (Ref A) to Nigerian Foreign Ministry (MFA) North and Central America Acting Director Rabia Shehu and International Organizations Deputy Director John Gana November 19, encouraging the Nigerian Government (GON) to vote against United Nations General Assembly resolutions with anti-Israel bias at the upcoming Fourth Committee. Both interlocutors promised to consider our views. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (C) The MFA relies upon a few key officials in Abuja and New York to decide upon votes at the United Nations and other international organizations. Our MFA interlocutors offered no substantive reply on this demarche nor on separate recent, demarches on no-action motions and human rights resolutions on Iran, Burma, and North Korea. The Foreign Minister will return from overseas travel this evening, which may facilitate decisions on any issues elevated to his level. SANDERS