ITALY GENERALLY SUPPORTS USG PROPOSAL ON NEW UN

UNCLAS ROME 002545

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL IT UNGA UNHCR HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY GENERALLY SUPPORTS USG PROPOSAL ON NEW UN
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

REF: STATE 140192


1. (SBU) Poloff delivered Reftel demarche on July 29 to
Minister Rosa Anna Coniglio, head of the MFA's Human Rights
Office. Min. Coniglio is new to her job, but provided
preliminary thoughts on the Italian position based on her
previous human rights background (she previously worked for
MFA U/S for Asia and Human Rights, Margherita Boniver).
Coniglio stated that Italy's position coincides "almost
completely" with the US proposal, highlighting the issue of
membership in the new council as perhaps one area where more
discussion is necessary. She agreed "totally" with the
balance of the talking points.


2. (SBU) Coniglio noted that Italy favors a larger council
more in line with Pres. Ping's vision of between 30-50
members. In her view, the size of the new council should
approximate the size of the current UN Human Rights
Commission. In addition, Italy would like to maintain a
similar regional group "proportionality."


3. (SBU) Coniglio addressed the "conditions" for membership
in the points, saying that Italy still had not developed
clear ideas on the topic. Italy agrees that some
qualifications are necessary to avoid the problems the
current Commission experienced in the past and to improve the
effectiveness of a new council. Italy, in principle, would
favor some mechanism that would allow potential members to
demonstrate "either before or after" membership a genuine
commitment to human rights. She was not certain about how
this process could be implemented, but said that Italy will
discuss the details in the coming weeks with its EU
colleagues and counterparts at the UN in New York.
KILNER


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2005ROME02545 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED