US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI657

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Identifier:	04DJIBOUTI657
Wikileaks:	View 04DJIBOUTI657 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Djibouti
Created:	2004-05-05 11:18:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	PREL TBIO DJ UNGA KSCI
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000657 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, TBIO, DJ, UNGA, KSCI 
SUBJECT: CLONING DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DJIBOUTI GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 96710 
 
1. (U) Ambassador delivered to Minister of Cooperation, 
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on 3 May, the demarche requested 
reftel on the UN resolution for negotiation of a 
convention that would ban all cloning of human embryos. 
Ambassador explained to Youssouf that in 2003 the Sixth 
Committee of the UN considered a resolution put forward 
by Costa Rica for a comprehensive ban on human cloning, 
as well as a resolution proposed by Belgium for a 
partial ban.  The Committee had tabled the discussion 
until 2004. 
 
2. (U) She told Youssouf that Costa Rica has once again 
submitted their resolution for consideration.  The Costa 
Rican resolution is already being co-sponsored by the 
U.S. and 33 other nations.  Ambassador asked for 
Djibouti's co-sponsorship of the 2004 Costa Rican 
resolution. 
 
3. (U) Youssouf did not indicate if Djibouti would 
co-sponsor, but said his government would support the 
Costa Rican resolution for one reason only: cloning is 
morally against the laws of Islam.  He continued that 
this position has also been advocated by Al-Azhar in 
Egypt, which states that cloning is against the Islamic 
religion.  Youssouf sad he expected that this would also 
be the Arab League position. 
RAGSDALE