Cablegate: Demarche Delivered: March Un Human Rights Council Session

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INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0004
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000247

SIPDIS
FOR IO/HR (PATEL) AND NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/25
TAGS: PREL PHUM UN EG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: MARCH UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SESSION
PRIORITIES

REF: 10 STATE 16236; 10 TEL AVIV 432

CLASSIFIED BY: Stephen O'Dowd, Counselor, State, ECPO; REASON:
1.4(B), (D)

1. (C) On February 23, we delivered ref A demarche to MFA Deputy
Director for Human Rights Omar Shalaby. On defamation of
religions, Shalaby said Egypt would support the OIC position. He
believed there is currently no broad backing for a binding treaty.
On Guinea, Shalaby said Nigeria would take the lead, and committed
to discussing the issue with the Nigerian government. On the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, he told us Egypt favors a
thematic mandate. According to Shalaby, Egypt believes that the
previous special procedures mandate was not effective, and the
Africa Group would continue to maintain this position. On Iran,
Shalaby said Egypt would not support a resolution, consistent with
its policy of opposing country specific resolutions. He noted that
the GOE would accept discussion of the situation in Iran at the
March session. On DPRK and Burma, Shalaby told us Egypt would
support the positions of the two states concerned. He said Egypt
would back special rapporteurs if the DPRK and Burma agreed.

2. (C) On the Goldstone Report, Shalaby said the GOE is considering
how to pursue the issue. He noted GOE concern that the Israeli
Government's February 21 announcement of a plan to preserve and
rehabilitate "national heritage sites" included the Tomb of the
Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem (ref B).
Shalaby thought the GOE might seek action on this issue at the
March session. (Note: On February 22, the MFA issued a statement
"strongly condemning...the Israeli government's decision to enlist
the Ibrahimi mosque and Belal Mosque on the Israeli national
heritage list." The statement "described this decision as illegal
since Israel is an occupation force in the West Bank." End note.)

3. (C) Shalaby said Egypt would focus on Israeli-Palestinian
issues, African issues, defamation of religions, and racism at the
March session. He noted that the GOE has not planned any specific
initiatives.
SCOBEY

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