BURKINA WILL EITHER ABSTAIN OR BE ABSENT FOR THE

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000217 INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIRF PHUM UV SUBJECT: BURKINA WILL EITHER ABSTAIN OR BE ABSENT FOR THE "DEFAMATION OF RELIGION" RESOLUTION VOTE REF: SECSTATE 27376 (SBU) On March 23, Pol/Mil officer delivered reftel demarche to Mr. Der Kogda, Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Kodga indicated that the GOBF was well aware of the Defamation resolution and the debate surrounding it. He offered that Burkina's position was clear and remained unchanged: "Burkina does not get involved in this type of debate because we do not find it useful or pertinent to Burkina". Kogda explained that in Burkina Faso, people tolerated each others' religions; inter-marriages are common and respect for each others' beliefs was deeply entrenched in the culture. He went on to say that Burkina did not even want to engage in the defamation debate because the Burkinabe population would not appreciate Burkina taking a stand one way or the other. Kogda said that Burkina would either abstain from voting on the resolution, or would decline to even be present when voting occurred. Kogda thanked the Embassy for the information, saying it was useful to know exactly where the USG stood on this issue. He promised to share the information with the Burkinabe Missions in New York and Geneva. LAEUCHLI