VZCZCXRO0937
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHRA #0527 3000721
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270721Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6109
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0113
UNCLAS RIGA 000527
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO IO/HR: COLLEEN NEVILLE
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DRL/MLGA: CHRIS SIBILLA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA GENERALLY SUPPORTS US POSITIONS ON ISSUES IN UNGA'S
THIRD COMMITTEEE
REF: SECSTATE 109397
1. (SBU) Latvia generally agrees with the US positions on all issues
discussed in reftel demarche.
2. (U) Latvia will chair the UN General Assembly Third Committee
session and is thus actively engaged in issues that will arise in
that session. Pol/Econ Off delivered reftel demarche to Sarmite
Danne, head of the MFA's International Organizations Division. Ms.
Danne said that Latvia has the following positions on the issues
discussed in reftel demarche.
3. (SBU) No-Action Motions: Latvia opposes the use of such
motions.
4. (SBU) Canada's Human Rights in Iran Resolution: Latvia will
support it.
5. (SBU) EU's Human Rights in Burma Resolution: Latvia will
support it.
6. (SBU) EU's Human Rights in the DPRK Resolution: Latvia will
support it.
7. (SBU) Defamation of Religions Resolution: Latvia has not seen
the text of the resolution and therefore has not determined its
final position. However, Latvia did not support this resolution
previously, because it had concerns regarding the general approach,
conceptual framework and terminology of this resolution. Latvia
does not see the concept of "defamation of religions" as a valid one
in a human rights discourse.
8. (SBU) US Resolution on Genuine Elections: Latvia is very
supportive of this topic and two years ago was among the co-sponsors
of this resolution. However, Latvia would like to see the final text
before defining its final position.
9. (SBU) Rights of the Child Resolution: Latvia would like to
streamline and consolidate the text as much as possible and to focus
on the yearly theme. It would like to see constructive cooperation
from the US side on this resolution.
10. (SBU) Resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women: As one of the co-sponsors of
this resolution, Latvia was very satisfied to see the resolution was
adopted without a vote. Latvia would like to see universal
ratification of this Convention.
11. (SBU) Note: One of Latvia's priorities for the upcoming
session is a reassessment of the methodology used to determine each
country's expected contribution to the UN. Latvia does not believe
that the current system reflects reality, particularly regarding the
major emerging economies.
GARBER