CHR 60TH SESSION DEMARCHE: SLOVAK RESPONSE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000189 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL LO UNHRC SUBJECT: CHR 60TH SESSION DEMARCHE: SLOVAK RESPONSE REF: STATE 41252 POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL POINTS TO PETER PROCHACKA, DIRECTOR OF THE MFA HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT. PROCHACKA RECEIVED THE INFORMATION WITH INTEREST, AND SAID SLOVAKIA INTENDS TO PRESERVE THE 30 OR SO CO-SPONSORSHIPS IT HAS COMMITTED TO IN PREVIOUS YEARS, SUCH AS ALL RESOLUTIONS TABLED BY THE EU AND MANY OF THOSE TABLED BY THE U.S., FOR EXAMPLE ON CUBA. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PAL CSAKY OR MFA STATE SECRETARY JOZSEF BERENYI MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE HIGH-LEVEL SECTION OF THE 60TH CHR, BUT THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED. SLOVAKIA INTENDS TO MAKE STATEMENTS ON THE SUBJECTS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES AND TORTURE. ONE POSSIBLE CONFLICT WITH U.S. POSITIONS IS SLOVAKIA'S SUPPORT FOR AN ANTI-DEATH PENALTY RESOLUTION (A POSITION CONSISTENT WITH THE EU). HOWEVER, PROCHACKA SAID SLOVAKIA WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT RESOLUTIONS, IF TABLED, ON CUBA, BELARUS, IRAN, DPRK AND TURKMENISTAN. THAYER NNNN