Cablegate: French Priorities for the 64th Unga Third Committee

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #1443 3011052
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281052Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7424

UNCLAS PARIS 001443

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/HR: CNEVILLE AND DRL/MLGA: CSIBILLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PRIORITIES FOR THE 64TH UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE

REF: SECSTATE 109397

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: France is on the same page as the United
States with respect to country-specific and thematic
resolutions for the UNGA Third Committee and seeks USG
support for French sponsored initiatives, stated MFA desk
officer for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Cecile
Vigneau, who spoke to poloff on October 27 in response to
reftel demarche. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) France is ready and willing to engage with the U.S.
in order to assure a productive Third Committee session in
the 64th UNGA, according to MFA Assistant Director for Human
Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Cecile Vigneau. In regards
to the country-specific resolutions, Vigneau said that France
is absolutely in support of the EU's annual resolutions on
human rights in Burma and the DPRK, thanking us for helping
to bring attention to these issues of mutual interest. She
also noted that the GOF fully supports Canada's annual
resolution on the human rights situation in Iran but wishes
to see the finalized text. Vigneau confirmed that France
shares our concerns on the Defamation of Religions resolution
and that the GOF is in full agreement with the U.S. on the
need to defer or defeat it at UNGA. Regarding the resolution
on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Vigneau
explained that France was actively involved in sponsoring the
resolution at the European Union level and now strongly
promotes the work of leads Colombia and Mexico on the issue.
She remarked that the French viewpoint on the U.S.-backed
Elections resolution would be best discussed by her
colleagues in New York.

3. (SBU) Vigneau expressed appreciation for U.S. willingness
to engage on the EU and the Group of Latin American and
Caribbean countries (GRULAC) jointly co-sponsored annual
resolution on the Rights of the Child. She commented that the
specific text of the resolution is currently being debated
amongst the EU member states and that the Swedes will be
taking the lead on the issue in New York.

4. (SBU) Describing the issue of religious discrimination as
a particularly challenging topic for UNGA discussion, Vigneau
solicited our support on the EU resolution on the Elimination
of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on
Religious Beliefs, which she said needed the full endorsement
of the U.S. and other influential states to win ratification.
She urged the U.S. to reconsider the not-yet-into-force
French-Argentian sponsored International Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which
remains seven signatures short of implementation. France
will also introduce a French-Brazilian drafted resolution on
the Elimination of Violence Against Women meant to protect
women against all forms of violence, including sexual
violence.

RIVKIN

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