ICELAND: RESPONSE TO THIRD COMMITTEE DEMARCHE

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000192 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL UNGA IC SUBJECT: ICELAND: RESPONSE TO THIRD COMMITTEE DEMARCHE REF: STATE 109397 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points on October 26 to Emil Hreggvidsson, Deputy Director for International and Security Affairs at the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Hreggvidsson said that Iceland's objectives for the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly Third Committee closely align with those of the United States. ¶2. (SBU) Hreggvidsson said that Iceland, like the United States, is troubled by "no-action motions" and will oppose their use. It is also Iceland's intention, he continued, to co-sponsor the three country-specific resolutions against Iran, Burma and the DPRK. Regarding the thematic resolutions, Hreggvidsson said that Iceland will likely join the U.S. in opposing the defamation of religions resolution and will support the U.S. sponsored elections resolution. He was also pleased to hear that the U.S. is looking to find common ground on the rights of the child resolution. The Government of Iceland, he said, considers protecting children's rights a top priority and intends to make a speech supporting the issue at the Third Committee. WATSON