UNGA: TANZANIA SEES COMMON GROUND ON GLOBAL ISSUES

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000598 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JTREADWELL, IO/UNP SUN, AF BOWLES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA TZ SUBJECT: UNGA: TANZANIA SEES COMMON GROUND ON GLOBAL ISSUES REF: SECSTATE 90254 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Foreign Service Officer Noel Kaganda welcomed information on U.S. priorities for the upcoming UNGA (reftel),delivered by Polchief September 10. He said the GOT shared our interest in addressing global challenges. Kaganda emphasized the particular importance of food security to Tanzania, which recently launched a new campaign on agriculture. He expected President Kikwete's address to the UNGA would touch on food security issues. ¶2. (SBU) Kaganda looked forward to a more cooperative atmosphere on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, commenting that while "we may differ on language, we share the same spirit." ¶3. (SBU) Kaganda noted that Tanzania had traditionally abstained on country-specific human rights resolutions, although it had supported the resolution on DPRK in past years. He expressed interest in the U.S. position on reviewing the Human Rights Council. Although the GOT had not reached a decision about creating a "composite gender entity," he expected Tanzania would be supportive of the proposal, based on experience as a "One UN" pilot country. cunnane