GOLDSTONE FOLLOW-UP ACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000379 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/HR - COURTNEY MUSSER, NEA/IPA, AND EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA IS KPAL JA SUBJECT: GOLDSTONE FOLLOW-UP ACTION REF: STATE 15722 Classified By: Political Deputy Marc Knapper per reasons 1.4(b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) Embassy Poloff met February 25 with MOFA Human Rights and Humanitarian Division's Tomoko Onishi to urge that Japan not support a Palestinian-drafted UN General Assembly resolution on the Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (Goldstone Report) that is expected to come to a vote February 26. Recalling that Japan had abstained on a similar UNGA resolution in November, Poloff stressed the need for Japan to maintain that position. Poloff also asked that Japan not support either Security Council or Human Rights Council (HRC) action on the Goldstone report, again noting that Japan had also abstained on the October HRC resolution. 2, (C) Although she did not anticipate any change in Japan's position from that taken on previous resolutions in the UNGA or the HRC, Onishi said that Japan had not yet decided its position on the UNGA resolution, adding that the recommendation of Japan's UN Mission would weigh heavily in the decision. Post suggests that USUN may wish to engage the Japanese in New York to ensure that Japan remains in the abstention column. ROOS