DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AD HOC COMMITTEE PROTOCOL

UNCLAS ACCRA 001153 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/AOSTERMEIR; GENEVA FOR TFOLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL GH SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AD HOC COMMITTEE PROTOCOL ON RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION REF: A. STATE 111466 ¶B. ACCRA 1139 ¶C. ACCRA 1113 ¶1. (U) PolOff delivered reftel demarche on October 30 to Beatrice Brobbey, Director, International Organizations (IO) and Multilateral Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Brobbey did not indicate how Ghana would vote on the resolution but questioned why the U.S. would oppose any resolution that protects against the defamation of religions. Poloff explained that a new protocol is not necessary, would be controversial, and that a greater emphasis should be placed on ensuring effective implementation of existing international protocols on religious freedom. Brobbey said that she would contact her colleagues in Geneva to discuss the proposal pending in the Ad Hoc Committee on Complementary Standards. ¶2. (U) During the meeting Brobbey also said that the IO Bureau lost everything in the October 21 fire at the MFA. All of the Bureau's papers, computers, phones, and furniture were completely destroyed. The Bureau is currently working on folding tables a room without phones or computers at the International Conference Center. Conducting routine business with the MFA will continue to be difficult for the foreseeable future. TEITELBAUM