VZCZCXRO6765
PP RUEHMR
DE RUEHMR #0218 1280935
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 080935Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2029
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0049
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2301

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  5/8/2010 
TAGS: KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO'S POSITION RE: IRAN'S CANDIDACY FOR UNHRC 
 
REF: A) STATE 072724  B) MASERU 0212  C) STATE 68575 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Karl P. Albrecht, Deputy Chief of Mission, EXEC, 
State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1. (C) After follow-ups by the DCM,  Acting MFA Principal 
Secretary Thabang Lekhela contacted post late Friday afternoon 
 
SIPDIS 
regarding Lesotho's position on Iran's candidacy for the UNHR 
Council.   Lekhela reiterated the information in Ref B, i.e., 
that the GOL would not support Iran for a seat on the Council. 
Instructions to that effect were being transmitted on Friday to 
the Lesotho's UN representative in New York. 
 
2 (C) Lekhela added that Lesotho would not pursue a seat on the 
Council at this time (contrary to MFA Moleleki's statements to 
the Ambassador, based on his discussions with the Prime 
Minister), as other countries from Africa had stated their 
interest and were already seeking the African group's support. 
 The PS had no update on a Community of Democracies Statement 
re: Iran's candidacy or if Lesotho would join such an effort. 
 
¶3. (C) COMMENT: Although post cannot know for sure, our educated 
guess is that one of the larger African countries, possibly 
Nigeria or South Africa, could well have approached Lesotho 
regarding its possible candidacy. 
 
PERRY