Cablegate: Unga Human Rights Resolutions: Philippines Will

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHML #3710 3232242
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 192242Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8916
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0240
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 003710

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/MLGA (SICADE, PAS), IO/RHS (OSTERMEIER,
GHOSH), EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA PHUM UN PREL
SUBJECT: UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS: PHILIPPINES WILL
LIKELY MAKE EXCEPTION ON NORTH KOREA

REF: SECSTATE 157024

1. (SBU) As requested reftel, Pol/C urged Evan Garcia, A/Sec
for the Office of United Nations and Other International
Organizations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to
support votes in favor of four UN Third Committee resolutions
(reftel). Pol/C underscored the high priority that the U.S.
places on debate and passage of such resolutions. Pol/C
emphasized that support from the Philippines and other
nations was crucial, particularly given that margins of
victory have become increasingly narrow. Garcia replied that
the Philippine government has a long-standing policy of not
supporting country-specific resolutions. However, Garcia
offered that the Philippine delegation would likely make an
exception in the case of North Korea because of the unique
situation there and because he deemed it would be useful in
the context of obvious forward momentum in the Six-Party
Talks. However, Garcia added that there was little prospect
that the Philippine government would deviate from their
tradition of either supporting no-action motions or
abstaining from votes on resolutions concerning Burma,
Belarus, and Iran.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/
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