Cablegate: Finland: Opposing Unga Resolutions With

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHE #0446 3341349
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301349Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5299
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0118

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000446

SIPDIS

IO/UNP FRO ANDREW MORRISON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA KPAL IS SY LE
SUBJECT: FINLAND: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH
ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

REF: SECSTATE 118799

Classified By: Classified by Pol/Econ Chief SBrandon for reasons 1.4(b)
and (c).

1. (SBU) Pol/Econoff delivered reftel remarks to Anna
Salovaara, First Secretary in the Unit for UN and General
Global Affairs at the MFA, and Kiikka Eela, Regional Manager
for the Midle East Unit in the Bureau of Middle East and
North African Affairs at the MFA. Both GOF officials stated
that
the UN is designed to allow weak states/organizations to have
equal representation against stronger states and that the UN
is following its mandate when it allows resolutions
specifically aimed at a single country. Eela then stated
that the GOF wanted to support Mahmoud Abbas by voting in
favor of
the Goldstone resolution and that the main thing that caused
Finland to abstain from voting was the text relating to the

Security Council. Salovaara said that she wanted to,
"Emphasize that it is a serious report and there must be
follow up." That being said, the GOF sees the Human Rights
Council, not the Security Council, as the correct institution
to undertake any follow up on the Goldstone report.

2. (C) The two GOF officials disagreed regarding the impact
that UN resolutions have on the peace process. Eela stated
that in bilateral discussions the GOF has been told by
Government of Israel officials that UN resolutions do not
have a significant impact on the peace process. She
questioned the need to be concerned over the number of
one-sided resolutions, and even voiced doubt about the impact
that the UN has in general. Salovaara stepped in and
defended the UN by asking what the process would look like if
there were no UN in which to hold discussions between all
member states.

3. (SBU) Eela stated that the GOF wants to support the USG's
efforts towards the peace process. She asked that the USG
provide to GOF general insight into the status of the peace
process. She finished by saying that the GOF, "Appreciates
your efforts and offers sympathy for the difficulty of the
task."
ORECK

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