THE GOLDSTONE REPORT: PHILIPPINE VIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 002311 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/HR - KRUCHOWSKI; IO/UNP - MORRISON; NEA/IPA - GIAUQUE USUN NEW YORK FOR GERMAIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS RP SUBJECT: THE GOLDSTONE REPORT: PHILIPPINE VIEWS REF: STATE 112828 Classified By: Political Counselor Thomas B. Gibbons, reason: 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) Post delivered reftel talking points on the Goldstone Report to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director for UN and IO affairs Leah Ruiz on November 4. Ruiz explained that the DFA in Manila had not yet received from its UN mission a report on the upcoming UNGA debate and resolution. Not yet having seen the draft resolution, the DFA had not yet formulated a position on it. ¶2. (C) Ruiz sought to explain the reasoning behind the Philippines' October 16 vote at the Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council in favor of the resolution that, among other elements, endorsed the Goldstone report, and to make that point that the previous vote and any future vote were not necessarily connected in DFA's view. Ruiz said that the October 16 vote was consistent with the Philippines' longstanding position on Palestine. As a supporter of human rights, the GRP felt it appropriate to highlight violations by both sides. A Philippine government public statement subsequent to the HRC vote explained the Philippines sought to advocate a balanced position in favor of a Middle East peace process based on a two-state solution, Ruiz said. ¶3. (C) However, Ruiz went on to stress that the Philippine government did not intend through its HRC vote to endorse the Goldstone report's contents, only to welcome its submission. She stated that the USG should not interpret the October 16 vote as indicating the Philippines would also oppose the U.S. position in the UNGA vote, since the UNGA resolution would entail different elements than the HRC resolution. Taking note of potential elements of the UNGA resolution that would be unacceptable to the USG, Ruiz agreed that the allegations in the Goldstone report should not / not be referred to the UNSC or to the International Criminal Court. She stressed that the Philippines felt strongly that states should respect the mandates of UN bodies and other international organizations and should not attempt to place inappropriate matters before them. KENNEY