Cablegate: New Zealand Response to Goldstone Report Demarche

VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWL #0299 3080729
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 040729Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0178
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0001
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000299

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EAP/ANP AND IO/HR, PAUL KRUCHOWSKI AND IO/UNP, ANDREW MORRISON AND NEA/IPA, JEFFREY GIAUQUE AND USUN NEW YORK, ELLEN GERMAIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER IS KPAL
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE

REF: 09 STATE 112828; State 098567, USUN 0958

1. (U) PolOff delivered Reftel demarche to Michael McBryde,
MFAT's United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division
Deputy Director and encouraged GNZ to support USG's position during
the November 4 UNGA Goldstone Report debate. Mr. McBryde met
separately with MFAT's Middle East Division and UN Division
Directors to discuss this demarche prior to responding.

2. (SBU) According to McBryde, Foreign Minister McCully is
following this issue closely and intends to be in phone contact
with Jim McClay, NZ's UN permanent representative during the
debate. GNZ views this as a "fast moving situation", and its
response will crystallize as events unfold. McBryde did say that
the proposed resolution language is surprisingly mild which
indicates that the Palestinian delegation authors are seeking to
build a broad support base. The resolution currently calls upon
both Israel and the Palestinians to investigate alleged human
rights abuses. If the final version is altered and demands only
Israeli investigations, GNZ will not vote for it.

3. (SBU) GNZ will not support a resolution endorsing the
Goldstone Report. Instead, it prefers language that "takes note"
of the report and its recommendations. GNZ is not concerned about
attempts to direct the Security Council (SC) to take up this matter
because the SC decides which topics it will discuss, and GNZ
believes that it is unlikely to add this debate to its agenda.
According to McBryde, the current resolution text does not mention
sanctions or make any reference to the International Criminal Court
or the International Court of Justice, and GNZ does not believe
that these options will be suggested during the debate. Finally,
GNZ is not opposed to time limits for completing investigations
into alleged abuses.

4. (U) McBryde stated that there is a robust, ongoing dialogue
between our two countries' UN delegations regarding the Goldstone
Report, and he is confident that this will continue during the Nov
4 debate.
CLARKE

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