Cablegate: Unga: Iran Rebuts United States On Holocaust

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1027 3102212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 052212Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5298

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001027

SIPDIS

FOR IO, NEA, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AORC PHUM UNGA IR IS
SUBJECT: UNGA: IRAN REBUTS UNITED STATES ON HOLOCAUST
REMEMBRANCE

1. Summary: Iran was recalcitrant in the November 3 UN
General Assembly (UNGA) debate in reaction to U.S. remarks on
Iran's denial of the Holocaust, and complained generally of a
UN conspiracy. End summary.

2. Citing the lessons of the Holocaust, U.S. Public Delegate
Cheryl Halpern commended UN efforts to memorialize the
victims and confront the threat of genocide in our day.
Halpern called Iran to account for Holocaust denial, which is
"unacceptable and unconscionable." Full USDel remarks are
available at the Mission's web site,
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov.

3. After scheduled speakers concluded, Iran exercised the
right of reply and attempted to defend against a
"disinformation campaign" of "baseless and absurd distortions
against Iran" organized in "certain circles" to "please a
political group." Conceding "there is no justification for
genocide," the Iranian said that the "Israeli regime" cannot
exploit "past crimes as a pretext for new crimes." Video is
available at www.un.org/webcast, search November 3.

4. The other speakers' remarks were supportive of the SYG's
report under consideration. The Israeli PermRep expressed
appreciation for the UN's outreach and turned her remarks to
adapting "the lessons of Nazi genocide to the evolving
threats of our time." She highlighted the Iranian call for
Israel's destruction and denial of "the historical realities
of the Holocaust." The Russian representative said that any
attempt to whitewash history is unacceptable and called for
vigilance against racism, discrimination and xenophobia. The
French PermRep then reaffirmed the EU's commitment to combat
anti-Semitism, racism, and "all forms of political, ethnic or
religious intolerance." Austrian, Canadian and Australian
representatives echoed these themes and detailed their
nation's efforts to memorialize the Holocaust and prevent
discrimination. The Rwandan representative condemned social
attitudes that lead to genocide.

5. The SYG's report "Program of Outreach on the 'Holocaust
and the UN'" (A/63/316) outlined UN collaboration with a
network of civic and academic leaders in seminars,
exhibitions, scholarly papers, panel discussions, films,
online products, and the observance of the January 27 as the
International Day of Commemoration. The outreach program has
publicized survivors' accounts and continues to warn of the
consequences of discrimination.
Khalilzad

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