Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME1190
2004-03-25 11:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY: CHR CHINA CUBA RESOLUTIONS - G-77 MAIN

Tags:  PHUM PREL CH CU IT UNHRC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001190 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2014
TAGS: PHUM PREL CH CU IT UNHRC
SUBJECT: ITALY: CHR CHINA CUBA RESOLUTIONS - G-77 MAIN
CHALLENGE

REF: SECSTATE 62815

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001190

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2014
TAGS: PHUM PREL CH CU IT UNHRC
SUBJECT: ITALY: CHR CHINA CUBA RESOLUTIONS - G-77 MAIN
CHALLENGE

REF: SECSTATE 62815

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) AMBASSADOR SPOKE WITH MFA SECRETARY GENERAL UMBERTO
VATTANI REGARDING REFTEL POINTS AND POL MC DELIVERED POINTS,
RESOLUTION TEXT AND NON-PAPER TO MFA DEPUTY POLITICAL
DIRECTOR CLAUDIO BISOGNIERO AND MFA HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTOR
GIUSEPPE CALVETTA. VATTANI THANKED THE AMBASSADOR AND ASSURED
HIM THAT ITALY WOULD STUDY THE CHINA AND CUBA RESOLUTIONS
CAREFULLY AND PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT.


2. (C) BISOGNIERO AGREED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO SUBSTANTIAL
HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS IN CHINA DESPITE ONGOING DIALOGUE
WITH THE EU AND THE US. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE EU PRESIDENCY
WAS CIRCULATING A TEXT TO REAFFIRM THE EU'S 2002 CHR POSITION
ON CHINA, WHICH STATES THAT THE EU WOULD NEITHER INTRODUCE
NOR CO-SPONSOR A RESOLUTION, WOULD VOTE AGAINST A "NO ACTION"
MOTION AND WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF A RESOLUTION IF IT COMES TO A
VOTE. ALTHOUGH THIS POSITION HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY ADOPTED
FOR THE 2004 CHR, BISOGNIERO BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE VERY
SIMILAR.


3. (C) BISOGNIERO AND CALVETTA AGREED WITH OUR CONCERNS
REGARDING THE GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CUBA AND
EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SEEING THE RESOLUTION TEXT AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. BISOGNIERO PROMISED TO KEEP US UPDATED ON BOTH
THESE ISSUES AS THEY EVOLVED.


4. (C) BISOGNIERO DESCRIBED THE MAIN CHALLENGE IN STOPPING A
"NO ACTION" MOTION BY CHINA AND MOVING FORWARD ON THESE
RESOLUTIONS AS A "STRUCTURAL CHR PROBLEM" EMBODIED BY THE
G-77 COUNTRIES WHICH, DUE TO THEIR IMPRESSION THAT THE CHR IS
AN ORGAN THROUGH WHICH THE WEST FORCES ITS VIEWS ON THE
NON-ALIGNED STATES, REFLEXIVELY SUPPORT COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA
AND CUBA AS A WAY TO SNUB THE WEST.


5. (C) FOLLOWING DEMARCHE TO BISOGNIERO, DCM SPOKE WITH MFA
U/S FOR ASIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS MARGHERITA BONIVER, AND
UNDERSCORED IMPORTANCE OF CUBA AND CHINA RESOLUTIONS TO USG.
BONIVER ACKNOWLEDGED SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE ISSUES AND SAID
HER OFFICE WOULD WORK WITH MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR TO TAKE US
VIEWS INTO ACCOUNT.
SEMBLER

NNNN
2004ROME01190 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL