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Cablegate: New Zealand Response to Action Request: Un General

VZCZCXRO9123
RR RUEHPB
DE RUEHWL #0292 2540459
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 100459Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5419
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 5249
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0005
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0001
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 0003
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 0756
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0046
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0304
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0768
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0497
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0137

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000292

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/RHS, PLEASE PASS TO REBECCA JOVIN, AND FOR
DRL/MLGA, PLEASE PASS TO LYNN SICADE
VILNIUS FOR MINSK (since MINSK is suspended)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO ACTION REQUEST: UN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES

REF: SECSTATE 95334

Classified By: POLOFF GARY REX FOR REASONS 1.4(b) AND (d).

1. (SBU) In response to reftel action request, on September
9 poloff met with Michael McBryde, deputy director of the
United Nations and Human Rights Division of the New Zealand
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Poloff and
McBryde discussed each of the U.S. priorities contained
within reftel.

No-Action Motions
-----------------

2. (C) McBryde stated that NZ agrees with the U.S. position
opposing no-action motions.

Country-Specific Resolutions
----------------------------

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3. (C) According to McBryde, NZ agrees with and has also
spoken out in favor of each of the country-specific
resolutions outlined in reftel, with the exception of
Belarus. With respect to Belarus, NZ is pleased with the
government's release of political prisoners, but has not
taken a position on any specific resolution relating to
Belarus (McBryde noted that MFAT has not studied the
situation in detail). With respect to Iran, McBryde stated
that NZ has supported Canada's resolution in the past and
plans to do so again.

Thematic Resolutions
--------------------

4. (C) With respect to defamation of religion resolutions,
NZ is opposed to such resolutions according to McBryde. He
said that NZ views such resolutions as a "slippery slope."

5. (C) With respect to prisoners of conscience, NZ
originally joined the U.S. as one of the 64 sponsors of the
UN declaration. McBryde stated that NZ would welcome the
opportunity to follow-up on the declaration and he liked the
ideas of highlighting the declaration at events commemorating
the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human
Rights and on Human Rights Day.
McCORMICK

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