64TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY/THIRD COMMITTEE:

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000472 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/HR (C.NEVILLE),DRL/MLGA (C.SIBILLA),AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN SZ LS SUBJECT: 64TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY/THIRD COMMITTEE: SWITZERLAND/LIECHTENSTEIN ON USG PRIORITIES REF: STATE 109397 Classified By: A/POLE counselor Chris Buck; reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Switzerland and Liechtenstein reject "no action" motions as a matter of principle, and they expect to support the UNGA Third Committee resolutions on the human rights situations in Iran, Burma, and the DPRK. They also plan to support the USG's biennial resolution on free elections, and generally share USG concerns about the concept of "defamation of religion." End Summary. -------------- SWITZERLAND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Responding to reftel message in an October 29 meeting with A/POLE counselor, Simon Amman, acting Head of the Human Rights Policy Section at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA),emphasized that Switzerland rejects "no action" motions as a matter of principle. He said that he expects Switzerland will again support the country-specific resolutions on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK. ¶3. (C) In the context of discussing the country-specific resolutions, Amman added that, while he anticipated that Switzerland would again co-sponsor the Burma and DPRK texts, he thought it likely that Switzerland this year would not co-sponsor the Iran resolution -- but still would vote in favor of it. The reason for this, he explained, is rooted in the Swiss government's ongoing efforts to assist the P5-plus-1 in its talks with Iran on the nuclear issue, as Switzerland had done most recently on October 1 in Geneva. There is concern at the FDFA that co-sponsorship of the Iran resolution could undercut Switzerland's ability to deal with Tehran and to support ongoing multilateral diplomatic efforts in this area. The issue of co-sponsorship notwithstanding, Amman underlined that the events following Iran's June elections had only further isolated the Iranian government, and reinforced the basis for the Iran resolution. ¶4. (C) Amman said that he expects that Switzerland will support the USG's biennial resolution on free elections, and reiterated that Switzerland fully shares USG concerns regarding the concept of "defamation of religion." He commended the USG for its success in the UN Human Rights Council with the joint U.S./Egypt freedom of expression resolution. However, Amman asked informally why the USG had selected Egypt as a partner in this endeavor, given the Egyptian government's own relatively poor track-record, he argued, in defending freedom of expression within Egypt. A/POLE counselor observed that Egypt is an important regional actor, and that achieving Egypt's support for the resolution resonates in the Muslim world and provides an opening for the USG and other like-minded states to continue to press Egypt to improve its own human rights record (i.e., to set an example). Amman mentioned that Switzerland has an ongoing diplomatic initiative in Saudi Arabia to urge the Saudi Arabian government to cease the use of corporal punishment. He said that Switzerland is working with Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on this effort, and would welcome working with the USG as well. Amman -- who normally covers Middle East issues in the FDFA's human rights policy section -- concluded by saying that Switzerland, in general, would welcome combining efforts with the USG on country-specific diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East. -------------- LIECHTENSTEIN -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Responding to reftel message on November 3, Andrea Hoch, who covers UN human rights issues at the Foreign Office in Vaduz, informed A/POLE counselor that Liechtenstein opposes "no action" motions and supports the resolutions on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK. She said that Liechtenstein also supports the USG thematic resolution on free elections, and has always been "very skeptical" about the concept of "defamation of religion." Hoch said that she was not aware of the latest details concerning the defamation resolution, and noted that the Liechtenstein Mission to the UN in New York has the lead in dealing with UNGA resolutions, and generally only consults Vaduz regarding topics of immediate relevance to Liechtenstein. CARTER