GHANA RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE

UNCLAS ACCRA 001154 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/W, IO/HR (KRUCHOWSKI),IO/UNP (MORRISON), NEA/IPA (GIAUQUE) USUN FOR GERMAIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS GH SUBJECT: GHANA RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE REF: STATE 112828 ¶1. (SBU) PolChief delivered reftel demarche November 4 to MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs Beatrice Brobbey, expressing the USG's serious concern regarding the Goldstone Report, and urging Ghana to support the U.S. position on the resolution likely to be proposed by the Arab Group and the OIC during the November 4 discussion in the General Assembly. ¶2. (SBU) Brobbey said she would convey our views to the MFA leadership and the Ghanaian delegation in New York, and indicated that a final decision whether to support or oppose a resolution would likely be made by Ghana's team in New York (Note: The Ghanaian MFA is still working out of temporary quarters in Accra's International Conference Center due to the October 23 fire that destroyed most of the ministry. Brobbey is working in a shared office with a cellphone, no land-line telephone and no computer. Accordingly, the MFA's ability to communicate with Ghana's diplomatic missions appears to remain constrained. End Note). She said that the General Assembly debate would influence Ghana's position, but that it would also take into account the positions of other members of the G-77, the African Union, and ECOWAS if such a position is "consistent with Ghana's values." Brobbey noted that Ghana takes a strong line in support of human rights, and remains deeply concerned by the situation in Gaza. ¶3. (SBU) PolChief noted that the USG is also concerned by the situation in Gaza, but that the Goldstone report presented a one-sided account of the crisis without mentioning Hamas, and that the Arab/OIC resolution may attempt to inappropriately refer the Goldstone allegations to the Security Council, an International Tribunal, or the International Criminal Court, despite the fact that the Israeli government is investigating the allegations. Brobbey indicated that the GOG would look carefully at our concerns regarding process shortcomings in the potential Arab/OIC resolution. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Our sense from this conversation is that the USG may have more success with the Ghanaian delegation in New York if it focuses on process shortcomings in the Goldstone Report's recommendations rather than the report's substance. End Comment. TEITELBAUM