UNGA DEMARCHES DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 000690 SIPDIS USUN - SENIOR AF ADVISER AMB. GERALD SCOTT USUN/MR - BRUCE RASHKOW IO/MPR - BRIAN HACKETT E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA UN RW SUBJECT: UNGA DEMARCHES DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 109397 ¶B. STATE 109341 Classified By: Ambassador W. Stuart Symington for reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Polcouns delivered reftel demarches on October 26 to Rwandan MFA's Director General of Europe, Americas and International Organization Affairs Mr. Ben Rutsinga. Regarding Ref A items, Rutsinga said that in 2007 and earlier Rwanda abstained from voting on "no-action motions," but changed its views in 2008 and voted against them because it believed members should be able to raise and discuss such issues. He promised to draft a paper on the issue and U.S. concerns for Foreign Minister, so she could present it for decision by the full cabinet this week. Rutsinga was non-committal on Iran, Burma and DPRK human rights resolutions, noting that Rwanda was not familiar with the situations in these three countries and that Burma's own neighbors in ASEAN did not criticize it. He added, however, that he viewed the acquisition of nuclear weapons by North Korea and especially Iran as worrisome developments. Rutsinga listened to polcouns regarding the biennial elections resolution, defamation of religion resolution, and candidacy of Ms. Myers (per Ref B) and accepted non-papers on the latter two issues, but did not indicate Rwanda's views on these issues, in part because he had to rush out the door for another appointment. Before leaving, he emphasized that Rwanda remained open to U.S. views and welcomed our input. SYMINGTON