CZECHS READY TO PROMOTE CUBA RESOLUTION AT UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS; SEEK USG VIEWS

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000116 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC CU EZ UN CHR SUBJECT: CZECHS READY TO PROMOTE CUBA RESOLUTION AT UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS; SEEK USG VIEWS REF: STATE 9812 ¶1. (U) Action request in para 5. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: While not a member of the CHR, the Czechs are prepared to lobby in support of a CHR resolution on Cuba and would like to coordinate efforts with Washington. Specifically, the GOCR wants to know if the USG will sponsor this year's resolution. The Czechs believe it will be an uphill battle to win approval for a Cuba resolution this spring and are anxious to begin forming and launching a strategy soon. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) Vera Jerabkova, Director of the Czech MFA's Human Rights Department, requested a meeting with Polec Counselor on Jan 25 to discuss a possible resolution on Cuba at the spring CHR meeting. Jerabkova related the results of the Jan 19 COHOM meeting in Brussels, and expressed appreciation for reftel points on USG views. Jerabkova said that Cuba was the very last item on the COHOM agenda, and that only Sweden joined the Czechs in speaking in favor of a resolution. Jerabkova said she left Brussels convinced that the EU will not sponsor this year's Cuba resolution. Further, she expects it will be a tough sell to win support within the EU for any CHR resolution on Cuba. ¶4. (SBU) More broadly, Jerabkova believes that the current composition of the CHR means that any Cuba resolution will face an uphill battle. While the Czech Republic is not a CHR member, they want to play an active role in building support for a Cuba resolution. Given the tough battle ahead, and in light of experience in recent years, Jerabkova is worried that there is not yet agreement on who will sponsor a Cuba resolution and how to win passage. She said the Czech embassy in Washington had indicated that the USG may sponsor the Cuba resolution this year, and sought our confirmation. (Comment: Jerabkova implied that she was seeking embassy involvement to get a clear USG viewpoint on the Cuba resolution, which suggests there may be differences of opinion between the MFA and the Czech embassy in Washington.) ¶5. (SBU) Action request: Embassy requests Department provide us with points we can use to discuss with Czech MFA USG thinking on a possible Cuba resolution at this year's CHR, including whether or not the U.S. is intending to sponsor a resolution. ¶6. (SBU) Jerabkova also related the status of EU coordination on other planned resolutions: consensus exists on the Burma and Belarus resolutions (on the latter, the EU wants to cosponsor with the U.S.); there was no consensus on Chechnya (will depend on results of early March EU-Russia summit), Zimbabwe (Jerabkova was surprised that the UK rep cited improving conditions there),China (the EU is waiting for a U.S. proposal),and Iran. CABANISS