SRI LANKA: GSL WILL REFLECT ON US PRIORITIES FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001122 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC KUNR CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GSL WILL REFLECT ON US PRIORITIES FOR UN REFORM REF: A. STATE 114051 ¶B. STATE 111657 Classified By: DCM J. ENTWISTLE FOR REASONS 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador delivered Reftel demarches to Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara on June 24. Palihakkara indicated that the GSL will likely vote in favor of the framework resolution that increases the Security Council to 24 members. He said that his government might consider supporting a HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL but expressed some reservations. Palihakkara said the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) would support the idea of a Peacebuilding Commission, but again added some caveats. End summary. -------------- SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM -------------- ¶2. (C) On the topic of Security COUNCIL Reform, Palihakkara said that his government generally supports Japan, India, Brazil, and Germany for permanent member status. He added that his government does not like all of the aspects of the proposed framework resolution that calls for 24 seats on the Security Council, but if pressed to a vote, the GSL would vote in favor of it. He added that the GSL would like language included in the text of the resolution that will require Africa to provide a list in advance of the rotation it will use to give countries representation. -------------- -------------- HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Palihakkara said that in principle, the GSL could support a HUMAN RIGHTS Council, but his government wants to be certain that a new body does not re-create the work of the Human RIGHTS Committee. He also said that it is important to engage countries that are violators of HUMAN rights, and if the proposed COUNCIL excludes those countries completely, perhaps it will be less effective at promoting HUMAN rights. He conceded that the large size of the HUMAN RIGHTS Committee sometimes makes it difficult to come to decisions, but asserted that the Committee was purposely designed to draw broad representation and to permit many voices to be heard. As far as a Peacebuilding Commission, Palihakkara said the GSL could support it as long as the body was respectful of local customs and would remain non-intrusive. Palihakkara concluded by saying the GSL will have an open mind about institutional reform that might make the UN more effective, but that his government will need to reflect on the matters further. LUNSTEAD