Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PRETORIA561
2009-03-24 16:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
SOUTH AFRICA TO VOTE YES ON 'DEFAMATION OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8406 RR RUEHDU RUEHJO DE RUEHSA #0561 0831622 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241622Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7802 INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1285 RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 6670 RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 0792 RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 9013 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1286 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0593
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000561
SIPDIS
DRL/MLGA FOR MELIKE YETKEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF SA
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO VOTE YES ON 'DEFAMATION OF
RELIGION' RESOLUTION
REF: SECSTATE 27376
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000561
SIPDIS
DRL/MLGA FOR MELIKE YETKEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF SA
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO VOTE YES ON 'DEFAMATION OF
RELIGION' RESOLUTION
REF: SECSTATE 27376
1. South Africa will vote in favor of the "Combating
defamation of religions" resolution, if the latter is put to
vote in the U.N. Human Rights Council. The DFA's Pitso
Montwedi, Chief Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian
Affairs, said that South Africa has supported the resolution
in the past and would do so again. South Africa was
sympathetic, he said, to the concern of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) over generalizations and
stereotypes in which the Muslim faith was equated with
terrorism. Montwedi indicated there was not scope for
influence or persuasion for a change in the vote or for
abstention.
2. Montwedi remarked that his own sources suggested the
measure might not be put to a vote at all, citing a prior
agreement between the OIC and EU states that the latter would
not run any resolutions related to religious belief,
specifically including this one. Montwedi said the OIC is
left "wondering what to do," and may choose not to put the
resolution to a vote.
3. Poloffs continue to meet with Montwedi biweekly, working
to harmonize USG and SAG understanding of each others'
perspectives on such themes.
LA LIME
SIPDIS
DRL/MLGA FOR MELIKE YETKEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF SA
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA TO VOTE YES ON 'DEFAMATION OF
RELIGION' RESOLUTION
REF: SECSTATE 27376
1. South Africa will vote in favor of the "Combating
defamation of religions" resolution, if the latter is put to
vote in the U.N. Human Rights Council. The DFA's Pitso
Montwedi, Chief Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian
Affairs, said that South Africa has supported the resolution
in the past and would do so again. South Africa was
sympathetic, he said, to the concern of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) over generalizations and
stereotypes in which the Muslim faith was equated with
terrorism. Montwedi indicated there was not scope for
influence or persuasion for a change in the vote or for
abstention.
2. Montwedi remarked that his own sources suggested the
measure might not be put to a vote at all, citing a prior
agreement between the OIC and EU states that the latter would
not run any resolutions related to religious belief,
specifically including this one. Montwedi said the OIC is
left "wondering what to do," and may choose not to put the
resolution to a vote.
3. Poloffs continue to meet with Montwedi biweekly, working
to harmonize USG and SAG understanding of each others'
perspectives on such themes.
LA LIME