LAOS TAKES NOTE OF U.S. PRIORITIES FOR UNGA THIRD

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENTIANE 000509 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/HR - NEVILLE DEPT ALSO FOR DRL/MLGA - SIBILLA DEPT ALSO FOR EAP/MLS - EMERY E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL LA SUBJECT: LAOS TAKES NOTE OF U.S. PRIORITIES FOR UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE REF: STATE: 109397 Classified By: Ambassador Ravic R. Huso for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On October 26, Poloff briefed Saleumxay Kommasith, Director General, Department of International Organizations, MFA, on USG priorities for UNGA's Third Committee session, per reftel. ¶2. (C) Saleumxay explained that the GOL generally does not favor country-specific resolutions on human rights issues because human rights often are "manipulated" for other reasons. Moreover, the GOL does not like to compare the status of human rights in one country with the status in another country. Saleumxay, however, allowed that the GOL might not vote against the resolutions and could decide to abstain in the case of some of the country-specific resolutions. Poloff underscored the need to oppose any "no-action motions" and allow full debate and a vote on each resolution. Saleumxay said the GOL would look at each specific case and consider, inter alia, the country introducing the resolution. Saleumxay told Poloff that the Ambassadors of Canada and Iran, both resident in Bangkok, had also demarched him on the Iran resolution. ¶3. (C) On the other priorities, Saleumxay noted that the GOL is pleased with improving U.S.-Lao relations and would consider that improved relationship when deciding how to vote on UNGA resolutions. He pointed to support for the U.S. candidate for the International Civil Service Commission (septel) and for U.S. membership in ECOSOC for the term 2010-2012 as evidence of GOL goodwill. HUSO