Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DILI316
2009-12-03 05:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dili
Cable title:
TIMOR-LESTE TO AGAIN ABSTAIN ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION
how-toVZCZCXRO6006 RR RUEHCHI RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHDT #0316 3370522 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 030522Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY DILI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4622 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1144 RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1177 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0970 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1357 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4178
UNCLAS DILI 000316
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/IRF JOANNELLA MORALES/NASREEN BADAT AND IO/HR AMY
OSTERMEIER/COLLEEN NEVILE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA PHUM PGOV TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE TO AGAIN ABSTAIN ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION
REF: STATE 122637
UNCLAS DILI 000316
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/IRF JOANNELLA MORALES/NASREEN BADAT AND IO/HR AMY
OSTERMEIER/COLLEEN NEVILE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA PHUM PGOV TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE TO AGAIN ABSTAIN ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION
REF: STATE 122637
1. Political Officer delivered reftel demarche on "defamation
of religion" to the MFA's Director of Bilateral Affairs, Abel
Guterres, on December 3. POLOFF informed Guterres that the
United States would again vote no when the resolution went
before the UNGA plenary session for a final vote.
2. Guterres expressed his appreciation for information on the
U.S. position. He recalled some of the public incidents he
believed were motivating the Organization of the Islamic
Conference's efforts, including the publication of cartoons
depicting Muhammad. He acknowledged the free speech argument as
well as the need to protect minority religions, but cautioned
that the support of most ASEAN countries for the resolution, in
particular Muslim-majority countries Indonesia and Malaysia,
made it difficult for Timor-Leste to vote no. Guterres stated
that Timor-Leste would abstain on the resolution, as it had in
the Third Committee.
KLEMM
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/IRF JOANNELLA MORALES/NASREEN BADAT AND IO/HR AMY
OSTERMEIER/COLLEEN NEVILE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA PHUM PGOV TT
SUBJECT: TIMOR-LESTE TO AGAIN ABSTAIN ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGION
REF: STATE 122637
1. Political Officer delivered reftel demarche on "defamation
of religion" to the MFA's Director of Bilateral Affairs, Abel
Guterres, on December 3. POLOFF informed Guterres that the
United States would again vote no when the resolution went
before the UNGA plenary session for a final vote.
2. Guterres expressed his appreciation for information on the
U.S. position. He recalled some of the public incidents he
believed were motivating the Organization of the Islamic
Conference's efforts, including the publication of cartoons
depicting Muhammad. He acknowledged the free speech argument as
well as the need to protect minority religions, but cautioned
that the support of most ASEAN countries for the resolution, in
particular Muslim-majority countries Indonesia and Malaysia,
made it difficult for Timor-Leste to vote no. Guterres stated
that Timor-Leste would abstain on the resolution, as it had in
the Third Committee.
KLEMM