OIC: MEMBER STATES SUSPICIOUS U.S. POSTPONEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000423 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; IO/HR (NEVILLE, GERMANO, OSTERMEIER); DRL/MLGA (SIBILLA) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL SA UNGA UN SUBJECT: OIC: MEMBER STATES SUSPICIOUS U.S. POSTPONEMENT RECOMMENDATION MASKS ATTEMPT "TO KILL THE RESOLUTION" REF: A. JEDDAH 0415 ¶B. JEDDAH 0416 Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (C) Following up on a recent discussion with Poloff regarding the OIC,s Defamation of Religion resolution (ref A),OIC Senior Adviser Ufuk Gokcen said yesterday that a number of OIC member states would like the U.S. "to find common ground" on the current resolution rather than seeking postponement. Gokcen says he does not see the resolution as trying to ban freedom of speech outright but rather to limit the incitement produced by defamatory, anti-Muslim rhetoric. Stressing that he thinks there remains "room for negotiation," Gokcen continued: "If the State Department has any ideas on language, the OIC is willing to listen." ¶2. (C) Gokcen added that if the U.S. wants to continue to push for postponement, it would be best if it gave some signal or indication about how an agreement on the issue could be reached in the future. He offered that as a result of the OIC,s many failed discussions with the EU, OIC member states are suspicious that the U.S. would only use postponement "as a means to kill the resolution." ¶3. (C) Comment: Despite Gokcen's sincere and obvious desire to maintain rapport with us, post sees little prospect of coming to common terms with the OIC on the Defamation of Religion issue -- unless we show readiness to negotiate/compromise. End comment. QUINN