VZCZCXRO7727
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1290 3290939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 240939Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8765
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH PRIORITY 5319
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0244
UNCLAS HANOI 001290
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR IO/UNP (MORRISON), EAP/MLS (BLACKSHAW)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY VM
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH
ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS
REF: STATE 123081
1. (SBU) In a November 24 conversation with MFA IO Division Head
Pham Hai Anh Deputy PolCouns expressed U.S. concern over the
disproportionate number of unhelpful and biased resolutions
criticizing Israel under consideration at the UN General Assembly.
Per reftel, DPolCouns urged Vietnam, as a member of the Non-Aligned
Movement, to use its influence to reduce the number of such
resolutions and, in particular, not to support the three resolutions
reaffirming the "Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People," the "Division for Palestinian Rights
within the UN Secretariat," and the "Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories."
Noting that Vietnam had supported similar resolutions in the past,
DPolCouns urged Vietnam's UN Mission to at least abstain or not be
present.
2. (SBU) Anh promised to pass along the substance of the demarche
to the MFA leadership. Anh said that having just returned from a
tour at Vietnam's UN Mission, he was well aware of the issue's
importance to the United States. Regardless of Vietnam's position
on the UNGA resolutions, which Anh conceded, as a personal opinion,
were disproportionate in number, Vietnam shared U.S. aspirations for
a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side
in peace and security. Anh said that he was not prepared to comment
on the three specific resolutions, but would raise the issue with
his superiors.
MICHALAK