THANK YOU FOR VOTES ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 004749 SENSITIVE C O R R E C T E D COPY (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA OPDC KIRF KISL SUBJECT: THANK YOU FOR VOTES ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTION ON DEFAMATION REF: A. STATE 122639 ¶B. STATE 128320 STATE 00004749 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This is an action message for action addressees. See para 5. ¶2. (U) Summary: Efforts to reach out to host countries, at all levels, paid off on December 18, 2009 as the votes in favor of the Defamation of Religions resolution at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) declined by six votes (80Y-61N(US)-42A) compared to the 2008 UNGA plenary result (86Y-53N(US)-42A). Because of persistent andpersuasive outreach by Ambassadors and embassy staff, a number of key countries changed prior voting patterns and helped us to attain a number of important changes in votes. In order to acknowledge U.S. appreciation for the countries who changed their past voting pattern to vote NO and to maintain their support for combating the 'defamation' concept at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session in March, action addressees are requested to transmit the letter from Assistant Secretary Brimmer in para 5 below, which conveys our profound thanks on the defamation vote. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) By thanking countries for their votes against the Defamation resolution, we hope to encourage them to continue opposing defamation resolutions and to work with the U.S. on alternative approaches to the 'defamation' concept in the future. Other countries assisted by either abstaining or absenting themselves from the vote. We have decided that we will only formally thank the countries that shifted to a NO vote. For Posts' information, paragraph 7 will note countries that shifted away from a yes vote to an abstention. ¶4. (SBU) The following countries' NO votes in the UNGA plenary were instrumental in demonstrating that support for the "defamation" concept continues to erode. -- Chile, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, Vanuatu, St. Lucia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Tonga. ¶5. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: We ask that action addressees transmit the letter below from the Assistant Secretary to the Foreign Minister or Head of State (whomever Post deems most appropriate) to acknowledge the help their countries' votes provided. No signed original will follow. Begin text: Dear Mr./Madam Minister: (or other appropriate salutation) I am deeply grateful for your country's decision to vote against the Defamation of religions resolution that was recently voted at the plenary session of the UN General Assembly. As you know, the United States is very concerned about efforts to advance the concept of "defamation of religions" in UN fora. We firmly believe that the right to profess, practice, and promote one's religious beliefs is central to the ability of peoples from diverse backgrounds to live together peacefully, and that the freedoms of religion and expression are intertwined and mutually reinforcing. STATE 00004749 002.2 OF 002 Your country,s vote in the UN General Assembly was critical in demonstrating the waning support for the "defamation" concept. We hope to work with you and the international community in the coming months at the UN Human Rights Council on a new approach to combat the scourge of racial and religious intolerance while preserving universal human rights protections. Your continued support for the freedoms of expression and religion will be critical and we look forward to further collaboration with you at the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council. Sincerely Yours, Esther D. Brimmer Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of International Organization Affairs ¶6. (SBU) A number of countries also shifted their position away from a YES vote. Although we will not formally thank them, they are listed here for Post's information. At their discretion, posts may draw from the views in the letter text at Para 5 above in discussions with host governments to underline USG opposition to the defamation of religions concept. -- Albania (from absent to Abstention) -- Antigua and Barbuda (YES to Abstention) -- Bahamas (YES to Abstention) -- Fiji (YES to Abstention) -- Honduras (YES to Abstention) -- Jamaica (YES to Abstention) -- Lesotho (YES to Abstention) ¶7. (U) Department thanks posts for their assistance. Department contacts on this issue are Colleen Neville in IO/HR and Joannella Morales in DRL/IRF if posts have any questions. CLINTON