Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK203
2009-03-03 01:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

DEPARTING SOUTH AFRICAN PR KUMALO AND RICE DISCUSS

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC SF 
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VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0203 0620126
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030126Z MAR 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5981
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0863
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000203 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC SF
SUBJECT: DEPARTING SOUTH AFRICAN PR KUMALO AND RICE DISCUSS
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, BILATERAL RELATIONS, AND DURBAN
II

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000203

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC SF
SUBJECT: DEPARTING SOUTH AFRICAN PR KUMALO AND RICE DISCUSS
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, BILATERAL RELATIONS, AND DURBAN
II


1. (SBU) During Ambassador Rice's introductory meeting with
South African PermRep Dumisani Kumalo on February 25, Kumalo
said the Human Rights Council would "die" without U.S.
participation.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Rice said bilateral relations had not
gone as well as hoped and the U.S. wanted to turn the page
with South Africa. Kumalo responded that the relationship
should improve following South Africa's elections in April,
since there would be a new foreign minister and deputy
foreign minister, and he claimed previous points of
contention, like Zimbabwe, were being resolved.


3. (SBU) Ambassador Kumalo shared his thoughts on ways to
make the Durban Human Rights outcome document acceptable. He
suggested pressuring UNSYG Ban to warn of the possibility of
a mass withdrawal from the conference which could redirect
those countries pushing for the inclusion of anti-Semitic and
defamatory language.


4. (U) Kumalo said he was to become the South Africa's
Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region. (Note: Kumalo
departed his position as PermRep February 27. End Note).
Rice