Cablegate: Demarche: Philippines to Consider a Stronger Stand

VZCZCXRO6086
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #3875 3410923
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070923Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9126
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2208
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0245

UNCLAS MANILA 003875

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DRL/MLGA (PAZ)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA PHUM UN RP PREL PGOV UG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: PHILIPPINES TO CONSIDER A STRONGER STAND
ON BURMA AT THE UN

REF: A. STATE 163935 (UNGA PLENARY VOTES ON

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS)
B. STATE 161770 (UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE VOTING:
FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHES)

1. (SBU) As requested in reftels A and B, polcouns met on
December 5 with Department of Foreign Affairs Acting A/S
Grace Princesa to urge the Philippines to support four UN
resolutions condemning human rights situations in Burma,
Iran, Belarus, and the DPRK. Polcouns noted that the UNGA
Plenary will consider approving the resolutions in
mid-December and that the Philippines has an opportunity to
make a strong statement at this critical juncture on all four
resolutions. Polcouns noted the courageous public stance
that President Arroyo has taken against the Burmese regime's
repression -- most recently at the November ASEAN Summit in
Singapore -- and he expressed the hope that the Philippines,
as a democratic neighbor of Burma, would continue that
symbolically important leadership at the UN as well.
Princesa acknowledged that the Philippine government had
deviated from its practice of not supporting country-specific
resolutions by voting in favor of the draft resolution on the
North Korea situation, as well as by abstaining from the
no-action motion on Burma, and indicated she would raise U.S.
concerns with her superiors and seek a review of their votes
on the other resolutions.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/
KENNEY

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