ITALY: EU-CHINA HR DIALOGUE: POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005710

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR DRL, EUR AND EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL CH IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY: EU-CHINA HR DIALOGUE: POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE
BUT NO SUBSTANCE

REF: A. STATE 325020


B. ROME 05349

C. BEIJING 18148

Classified By: Pol M/C T. Countryman for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: MFA officials claim the EU-China Human Rights
Dialogue was a positive and cooperative exchange but, it did
not provide any tangible commitments or actions from the
Chinese. The Chinese underscored their willingness to work
through international mechanisms to respect human rights but,
their continued reliance on methods such as religious group
registration and re-education camps and a lack of positive
results or commitments belies their purported sincerity to
improve the human rights situation. End Summary.


2. (C) PolOff met with Carlo Campanile, MFA Human Rights
Deputy Office Director, to review the recent EU-China Human
Rights Dialogue held in Beijing November 27-28. Campanile
reported a positive and cooperative atmosphere, with the
Chinese showing interest in and giving importance to the
issues presented. Among the topics discussed were cooperation
with international mechanisms, HIV/AIDS, religious freedom,
reeducation camps, torture, the death penalty and Tibet.
Campanile stated that the EU members came away from the
dialogue with a generally positive impression and that the
Chinese were cooperative but, he did not recount any
substantial improvements nor provide any tangible commitments
from the Chinese. A seminar with NGO participants was held
separately in Venice, December 15-16 to discuss the NGO role
as well as the challenges of working in China particularly
due to the need for authorization and registration through
the government. A public document will be prepared on the
Seminar, which probably will be posted on the Ministry's EU
Presidency website.


3. (C) Campanile claimed that the Chinese are willing to
collaborate with the international community and work through
international mechanisms, such as the UN, to achieve progress
on human rights issues. As an example, Campanile presented
the recent September visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on
the Right to Education (the results of which were badly
received by the Chinese as indicated in reftel C) and the
possible upcoming visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on
Torture, for which a planning visit may be scheduled for
early 2004. No dates or commitments have been made for either
the planning trip or the rapporteur's visit, and the EU
appears to have made little progress pinning the Chinese down
on specifics.


4. (C) Campanile highlighted the dialogue's focus on
HIV/AIDS. This was the first time this issue was discussed
and Campanile stated that the Chinese admitted to the
existence of the problem and the need to care for and
reintegrate citizens with this disease. He stated that the
Chinese are not only concerned with the disease but also with
the treatment of people who are HIV positive and thus
discriminated against. Although he could not provide
specifics, Campanile stated that the Chinese government is
providing funds and creating programs to battle HIV/AIDS and
ensure fair treatment of victims. As a demonstration of these
efforts the Chinese organized a delegation visit to Beijing's
Ditan hospital HIV/AIDS ward.


5. (C) Campanile stated that religious freedom is respected
in China and that the administrative registration of
religious groups by the government is intended to offer
protection to religious groups. In the case of Fulan Gong he
stated that this group was considered a sect and thus not
granted these freedoms. In fact, some members were "enrolled"
in re-education camps (RTL). The Chinese presented
re-education camps as a solution rather than a human rights
problem. Campanile stated that the Chinese have a society in
which adherence to structured norms is a requirement for
participation and in which rapid change is not to be
expected. Although not approving of these camps, he stated
that the Chinese viewed the camps as a way of reintegrating
people into the society as positive participants. Per reftel
C the EU delegation visited the Daxin RTL facility which they
felt was designed for show.


6. (C) On other issues, Campanile reported status quo
discussions on the death penalty. The Chinese reported a


decrease in executions even though they have no way of
proving it since no statistics are maintained or, if they
exist, are considered a "state secret" (reftel C). Tibet was
discussed within the larger issue of minority rights. The
Chinese maintained their position stating that they are
willing to entertain dialogue but will not consider
independence. Note: Although not mentioned during the
dialogue, the Chinese were upset by the recent visit of the
Dalai Lama to Rome; other contacts have told us that a
"hysterical" Chinese ambassador called U/S Boniver four times
one afternoon urging no official contact with the Dalai Lama.
End Note.


7. (C) Campanile supported a continued EU-China dialogue
stating that although change is slow in China, the Chinese
have expressed a desire to cooperate and collaborate on HR
issues and continue with the dialogue. Some EU member
countries felt the dialogue was not leading to results and
thus needed to be modified.


8. (C) Comment: Based on the lack of specifics, details and
examples, as well as the overly positive tone on issues of
concern (i.e. re-education camps, religious freedom),PolOff
is skeptical of the read-out provided by Campanile. In fact,
the vague report presented by Campanile suggests that the
dialogue was not as positive as he suggests and indicates
inactivity by the Chinese on dealing with the human rights
situation. Post will continue to explore other GOI
perspectives and solicits comment from colleagues in
Brussels and Beijing. End Comment.

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2003ROME05710 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL