Cablegate: Rwanda On Anti-Israel and Compliance With

VZCZCXYZ0013
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0819 3291553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241553Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5768
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0178

UNCLAS KIGALI 000819

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO IO/UNP ANDREW MORRISON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA ON ANTI-ISRAEL AND COMPLIANCE WITH
NON-PROLIFERATION DEMARCHES

REF: A. STATE 123493
B. STATE 123081

1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief met November 24 with Joseph
Kabakeza, Director General of Bilateral and Multilateral
Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss
reftel demarches on Anti-Israel resolutions (ref B) and the
Non-Proliferation resolution (ref A). Kabakeza said his
ministry would give careful consideration to the request to
vote against anti-Israel resolutions, particularly the three
resolutions to extend the three specialized bodies focusing
on Palestinian rights. Agreeing that these resolutions add
little to the search for peace, and often served simply to
aggravate Israeli public opinion, Kabakeza cautioned that
Rwanda often did not attend such votes, as its "skeletal"
delegation could not track all the issues in the busy UNGA
session.

2. (SBU) Kabakeza also listened attentively to the demarche
points on the Compliance resolution passed by the First
Committee, agreeing that the overwhelmingly positive vote in
the First Committee showed the strong support the
international community had for this resolution. He promised
to consult closely with the Foreign Minister in framing
Rwanda's position.
SYMINGTON

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