Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OUAGADOUGOU1078
2009-12-02 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:  

BURKINA FASO: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DECEMBER

Tags:  PREL PHUM UNGA UV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHOU #1078 3360811
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY ADX0E53B7C WSC7448 611)
P 020811Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5847
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 001078 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (Mis-Positioned Info Addressee)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DECEMBER
"DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS" VOTE

REF: SECSTATE 122638

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for
reasons 1.4 (b and d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 001078

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (Mis-Positioned Info Addressee)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DECEMBER
"DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS" VOTE

REF: SECSTATE 122638

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Dennis Hankins for
reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) On December 1, Pol/Mil Officer delivered reftel
demarche to Mr. Der Kogda, Director of Multilateral Affairs
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pol/Mil explained that
the USG is concerned about the deeply problematic "combating
defamation of religions" resolution, which seeks to undermine
established human rights of freedom of religion and
expression. We underscored the importance of voting against
this resolution, or as a fall back, to abstain.


2. (C) Kogda was non-committal about which way Burkina Faso
might vote, but reminded us that in Burkina Faso, religion
was just not an issue. He said that, because Burkinabe were
tolerant to all forms of religion, debating this type of
proposal did not make sense in the national context. He also
reminded us that Burkina Faso was a member of the OIC. Kogda
said he would share our concerns about the December vote with
the Burkinabe Foreign Minister as well as the Burkinabe
Mission in New York.


3. (C) COMMENT: Because of Burkina Faso's membership to the
OIC and looking back on it past voting record it is unlikely
that it will vote "no", but rather will abstain as it has in
the past.
HANKINS