TURKEY: 59TH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001632 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2008 TAGS: PHUM PREL TU UNHRC SUBJECT: TURKEY: 59TH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEMARCHE REF: SECSTATE 64728 Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter; reasons 1.5 b and d. ¶1. (C) Poloff March 13 discussed reftel talking points with Kaan Esener, head of the MFA Council of Europe Department, and his deputy, Serhat Aksen. Esener and Aksen noted that Turkey will participate as an EU candidate country in certain EU coordination meetings at the Commission. They said the GOT looked forward to working with the USG. In general, Esener said, the GOT is sensitive about "sometimes unfair" international criticism of its own human rights record, and therefore tends to favor thematic resolutions rather than country-specific resolutions. However, he said, the GOT recognizes there is often broad support for country-specific resolutions and does not rule out support. ¶2. (C) Aksen said Turkey is close to both the Western and Islamic Commission members, and can sometimes help bridge gaps. He said the GOT shares the USG view that resolutions on the Arab-Israeli conflict should be balanced. Esener said in the past Western Commission members have undermined their own good efforts by failing to consult with others on the Commission before introducing resolutions. He said the GOT will try to prevent this from happening during the next session. PEARSON