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

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