Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NASSAU775
2009-12-29 20:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

GCOB REACTS TO EMBASSY OP-ED CRITICISM ON UN VOTING

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL BF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0775 3632056
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 292055Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0002
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0173
INFO EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000775 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/29
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BF
SUBJECT: GCOB REACTS TO EMBASSY OP-ED CRITICISM ON UN VOTING

REF: NASSAU 741; NASSAU 731; NASSAU 697

DERIVED FROM: DSCG 05-1 D

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000775

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/29
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BF
SUBJECT: GCOB REACTS TO EMBASSY OP-ED CRITICISM ON UN VOTING

REF: NASSAU 741; NASSAU 731; NASSAU 697

DERIVED FROM: DSCG 05-1 D


1. (C) The Embassy received the attached letter, press statement
and explanation of vote from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs (DPM) Brent Symonette on December 24. The letter
and statement were issued in response to the Ambassador's op-ed,
published in several of the local dailies on December 19 and 21,
expressing disappointment at the change in GCOB position on several
key human rights resolutions during the UN Third Committee.




2. (U) In coverage of the op-ed, the DPM told the media that The
Bahamas voted against the no-action motions and abstained from the
resolutions because they left out several countries that had been
included the previous year. The GCOB press release claimed the
Ambassador "misrepresented" GCOB position. The release
highlighted the GCOB support of sanctions against the North Korea
and Iran and explained that it's voting record on these resolutions
has changed frequently because the content of the resolutions often
changes from year to year. The GCOB reiterated that it does not
condone wanton violations of human rights. The DPM wrote that the
Ambassador of Iran had highlighted several factual errors in the
resolution which were not rebutted by the co-sponsors. The GCOB
also noted that the co-sponsors were not permitted to vote
separately on the substantive paragraphs so that countries could
express their positions on "controversial sections."




3. (C) Post requests USUN views on the GCOB's points and input for
use with GCOB in future conversations.
AVANT