Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JEDDAH423
2009-11-04 15:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
OIC: MEMBER STATES SUSPICIOUS U.S. POSTPONEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO8893 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHJI #0423 3081549 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041549Z NOV 09 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1588 INFO RUEHIC/OIC COLLECTIVE RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8572 RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN 0153 RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0114 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0194
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)
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
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