O 161633Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS STATE 098963 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OFDP PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: CONTACT POLICY FOR THE 63RD UNGA 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶2.  (U) USUN personnel and TDY personnel representing the 
U.S. government at the UN are requested to adhere to the 
guidelines below in official and social interactions with 
governments and entities that require special treatment. 
(These guidelines do not affect necessary contacts with 
the missions of these governments and entities with 
respect to ongoing host country responsibilities, e.g., 
visas, travel restrictions). 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In general, substantive contacts should not be 
initiated with delegates from Cuba, Syria, Iran, and North 
Korea.  However, contacts are permitted in the conduct of 
UN business, e.g., working with the chairman of a 
committee or working group from one of these countries. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In general, social invitations should not be 
issued to delegates from Cuba, Iran, Syria, Burma, North 
Korea, Sudan, Eritrea, Mauritania and Zimbabwe.  In 
addition, for purposes of UNGA only, social invitations 
should not be issued to delegates from Venezuela and Bolivia. 
USUN and TDY personnel should be especially sensitive to this 
guidance and should exclude any delegates from these 
countries from social functions held on U.S. property, 
i.e., USUN or the Perm Rep's official residence. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) USUN and TDY personnel may not accept invitations 
to luncheons, receptions or dinners hosted by the 
countries identified in paras 3 and 4 above for purely 
social purposes.  There is, however, no prohibition 
against attending functions that are specifically related 
to UN business, e.g., a luncheon of a bureau or a 
committee.  Further, there is no prohibition against 
attending receptions or other events hosted by member 
states where it is known that representatives of these 
countries will be present.  USUN and TDY personnel should 
not initiate contact with delegates of the countries 
listed in the first sentence of paragraph 4. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Additional guidance follows: 
 
Russia: The Secretary has publicly said that we should not 
engage in "business as usual" with Russia following 
Russian military action in Georgia.  Bilateral contact 
with Russian officials for purely social, 
representational, ceremonial and non-essential diplomatic 
purposes should therefore be avoided.  However, U.S. 
officials should maintain diplomatic contacts with Russian 
counterparts on UN issues when it serves the broader U.S. 
national interest, such as on UN Security Council, 
Quartet, humanitarian relief, management, and 
security/political issues.  Refer questions for more 
specific guidance to EUR/RUS Daphne Stavropoulos and 
IO/UNP Susan Edmondson. 
 
Belarus: Contact with the Belarus delegation should be 
avoided for purely social purposes.  There is, however, no 
prohibition on contact for UN business. 
 
PLO: Regular and substantive contact with PA officials and 
ministries is permitted for USUN and TDY personnel.  This 
includes continued contact with PA entities and with the 
PLO.  PLO and PA members may be invited to 
representational events. 
 
No contact is allowed, however, with any Palestinian who 
is in any way affiliated with a Foreign Terrorist 
Organization (FTO), including HAMAS, or the Palestinian 
Islamic Jihad, etc. 
 
Taiwan: Taiwan representatives may not be invited to 
functions of an official nature or to functions held on 
U.S. official premises.  USUN and TDY personnel may accept 
invitations to private functions hosted by Taiwan 
representatives either in restaurants or their homes. 
Invitations may not be accepted to "official" premises. 
USUN personnel may host Taiwan representatives at private 
functions at restaurants or in their homes except for the 
U.S. Perm Rep's residence. 
RICE