1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador approached both the French
and the British ambassadors here about helping convince
President Fernandez to cast the Dominican vote in favor of
the draft resolution on Cuba in CHR-61. The Ambassador noted
that, despite his repeated and extensive conversations with
Fernandez, the Dominican president was strongly inclined to
abstain. UK Ambassador Andrew Ashcroft undertook to urge
Fernandez to reconsider. On the draft resolution on Belarus,
Ashcroft noted great interest in London but said he was doing
nothing here. The French ambassador has received no
instructions concerning UNHRC issues. The Dutch Ambassador,
representing the EU Presidency, has received instructions for
a joint demarche with us on the Belarus resolution. End
summary.

Cuba
- - - -



2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by Embassy officers, on
April 11-12 urged the French and British ambassadors to help
persuade President Fernandez to cast the Dominican
Republic,s vote for the Cuba resolution at CHR-61. The
Ambassador said he had spoken extensively on several
occasions (most recently on April 8) with Fernandez about the
importance of continuing Santo Domingo,s previous support
for the CHR,s scrutiny of Cuba. However, the Ambassador
noted, Fernandez seemed strongly inclined to abstain on this
year,s resolution, because of his political party,s
historical ties with Cuba. The Ambassador asked both of the
European ambassadors what they could do.



3. (C) French Ambassador Jean-Claude Moyret declined to
engage on the issue and said he had received no instructions
on CHR issues. British Ambassador Andrew Ashcroft offered to
speak with Fernandez, show him the "bland" draft resolution,
and ask him how he could afford not support it -- both
because of its minimalist content and as a signal of
commitment to freedom and democracy. Aschcroft said that at
least one European official visitor to Cuba had "spoken out
strongly" on human rights issues even after the EU's recently
"renewed detente" with the Castro regime.

Belarus
- - - - - -



4. (C) Regarding the draft resolution on Belarus in CHR-61,
Ashcroft said he had not taken any action. He did note great
interest in London in passing the Belarus resolution. The
EU, he said, had decided not to divide its efforts on
additional country-specific resolutions, for example on
Africa, and instead to emphasize Belarus.



5. (C) Separately, Dutch Ambassador Bart Schortinghuis
confirmed to us recept of instructions to coordinate a joint
demarche with this Embassy on Belarus, acting on behalf of
the Luxembourg EU Presidency, . We said we would inform him
as soon as our front-channel guidance arrives.
HERTELL