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