CZECH PLANS TO LOBBY FOR CHR CUBA RESOLUTION

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000473 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM EZ UNHRC EUN SUBJECT: CZECH PLANS TO LOBBY FOR CHR CUBA RESOLUTION REF: SECSTATE 60754 ¶1. This message is Sensitive But Unclassified; not for internet distribution. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff contacted Jan Kaminek of the Human Rights Department at the MFA regarding the referenced request for EU Member State assistance on the Commission on Human Rights Cuba resolution. Kaminek was happy to report that as of last week, 24 EU countries had announced their plans to support the resolution, and though Finland is still waiting for final approval from Helsinki, Kaminek was certain this is but a formality. He noted that this is the first time there will be a united EU position backing this resolution, and that this is in part to persistent lobbying by the Czechs. ¶3. (SBU) Now that their work garnering EU support is done, Kaminek said that the Czech Republic would be happy to send instructions today or tomorrow for Czech representation in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Ukraine to begin lobbying for the resolution. Unfortunately, the Czechs do not have representation in Guatemala or Ecuador, and Kaminek apologized that their mission in Peru is too understaffed at the moment to lobby for this resolution. He promised, however, that the Czechs would do their best with the other three, and that they were pleased to have direction about where to focus their continuing efforts on this issue. CABANISS