Cablegate: Rokg Explains Vote for November 17 Ess Resolution

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DE RUEHUL #3995 3240116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 200116Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1412
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1555
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1643
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7629
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0339

UNCLAS SEOUL 003995

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA KS IS
SUBJECT: ROKG EXPLAINS VOTE FOR NOVEMBER 17 ESS RESOLUTION

REF: STATE 188244

1. (SBU) On November 17, poloff delivered reftel demarche,
urging capitals to vote against or abstain on an unbalanced
draft resolution on Israel that was to be proposed later that
day at an Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UNGA, to Lee
Kyung-chul, Deputy Director of the UN Division, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade. Lee said his office would need to
study the text of the draft resolution that poloff provided.
The UN Division, however, was unable to provide a fuller
response by close of business.

2. (SBU) On November 20, poloff called on Kim Chul-lee,
another Deputy Director at MOFAT's UN Division, for an
explanation of the ROKG vote for the ESS resolution adopted
on November 17. Kim stated that Seoul had intended to
abstain on the original draft in consideration of the USG
position. Following European Union-initiated modifications
to the text's language, Seoul decided to side with the
majority to adopt the resolution. Kim stressed that the EU
and Japan also supported the resolution to produce its
adoption by a vote of 156-7-6.
VERSHBOW

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