DEMARCHE DELIVERED - POSSIBLE UN CONVENTION

UNCLAS MANILA 002288 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL RP SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED - POSSIBLE UN CONVENTION ENDANGERS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, RELIGION REF: STATE 111466 ¶1. (U) Post delivered reftel points to Director Joy Tirol of the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),underscoring the U.S. opposition to the adoption by the Ad Hoc Committee on Complementary Standards of any new convention on "defamation of religions" or other new international instruments or reinterpretations of existing international human rights law. Post strongly encouraged DFA to urge the Philippine government to consider and support the U.S. proposals for the Ad Hoc Committee in Geneva as an alternative to a draft convention or optional protocol. Although Director Tirol was unable to respond immediately, she said that she would forward reftel points to the senior levels in DFA to ensure the U.S. position is given careful consideration. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the importance that the Philippines places on its pending application for observer status at the OIC, and Manila's previous support for the OIC's position on defamation of religions, it is not likely that the government will reverse course and support the U.S. proposals unless other ASEAN and NAM member states provide political cover by doing the same. However, post will continue to engage with DFA to ascertain the Philippine government's position and press for a positive outcome. KENNEY