Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL1701
2009-10-27 01:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
MOFAT ON ROK VOTING DURING UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #1701 3000141 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 270141Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6043 INFO RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSFK SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS SEOUL 001701
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KS KN PGOV PHUM PREL UN
SUBJECT: MOFAT ON ROK VOTING DURING UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE
SESSION
UNCLAS SEOUL 001701
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KS KN PGOV PHUM PREL UN
SUBJECT: MOFAT ON ROK VOTING DURING UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE
SESSION
1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche on 10/26 to Cho
Tae-ick, Director of MOFAT's Human Rights and Social Affairs
Division, seeking ROKG support for human rights resolutions
on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK, the biennial U.S. elections
resolution, and ROK opposition to "defamation of religions"
resolutions and non-action motions during the UNGA Third
Committee Meetings in November.
2. (SBU) Cho said that, broadly speaking, he anticipated no
change in traditional ROK voting patterns. He noted that
Seoul was a co-sponsor on the Burma resolution and fully
backed the DPRK resolution; voting for the Iran resolution
would be tough for Korea, and he predicted Seoul would again
abstain. Cho related that the ROK would support the biennial
U.S. elections resolution. He noted that, like Washington,
Seoul had serious concerns about the vague nature of what
constituted "defamation of religion" and agreed that the term
was open to broad interpretation and abuse. The ROK would
also join with the United States in opposing non-action
motions, concurring with the USG view that such moves were
intended to limit debate.
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KS KN PGOV PHUM PREL UN
SUBJECT: MOFAT ON ROK VOTING DURING UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE
SESSION
1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche on 10/26 to Cho
Tae-ick, Director of MOFAT's Human Rights and Social Affairs
Division, seeking ROKG support for human rights resolutions
on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK, the biennial U.S. elections
resolution, and ROK opposition to "defamation of religions"
resolutions and non-action motions during the UNGA Third
Committee Meetings in November.
2. (SBU) Cho said that, broadly speaking, he anticipated no
change in traditional ROK voting patterns. He noted that
Seoul was a co-sponsor on the Burma resolution and fully
backed the DPRK resolution; voting for the Iran resolution
would be tough for Korea, and he predicted Seoul would again
abstain. Cho related that the ROK would support the biennial
U.S. elections resolution. He noted that, like Washington,
Seoul had serious concerns about the vague nature of what
constituted "defamation of religion" and agreed that the term
was open to broad interpretation and abuse. The ROK would
also join with the United States in opposing non-action
motions, concurring with the USG view that such moves were
intended to limit debate.
STEPHENS