Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING16381
2006-08-09 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

U/S DOBRIANSKY DISCUSSES NORTH KOREANS, HUMAN

Tags:  PREL PHUM AORC KN UN CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0023
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJA #6381 2211241
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWMCF8003 2211258
O 091241Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 016381 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2031
TAGS: PREL PHUM AORC KN UN CH


SUBJECT: U/S DOBRIANSKY DISCUSSES NORTH KOREANS, HUMAN
RIGHTS AND WHO CANDIDATES WITH CHINESE AFM CUI

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR DANIEL SHIELDS.
REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 016381

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2031
TAGS: PREL PHUM AORC KN UN CH


SUBJECT: U/S DOBRIANSKY DISCUSSES NORTH KOREANS, HUMAN
RIGHTS AND WHO CANDIDATES WITH CHINESE AFM CUI

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR DANIEL SHIELDS.
REASONS 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: UNDER SECRETARY DOBRIANSKY AND ASSISTANT
FOREIGN MINISTER CUI TIANKAI DISCUSSED NORTH KOREANS IN
CHINA, HUMAN RIGHTS AND CANDIDATES TO HEAD THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION (WHO) DURING AN AUGUST 9 BILATERAL MEETING PRIOR
TO THE U.S.-CHINA GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM (GIF). U/S DOBRIANSKY
EXPRESSED USG APPRECIATION FOR CHINA'S COOPERATION IN
DISCREETLY RESOLVING CASES OF NORTH KOREANS IN U.S.
DIPLOMATIC FACILITIES AND URGED CHINA TO CONTINUE TO
COOPERATE WITH THE UN HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES. SHE
REMINDED CUI OF THE UNITED STATES' DESIRE TO SEE ACTION ON
THE SIX HUMAN RIGHTS AREAS OUTLINED BY PRESIDENT BUSH AND
RAISED CONCERN ABOUT PROSECUTION OF REBIYA KADEER'S FAMILY
MEMBERS. CUI SAID NORTH KOREAN BORDER CROSSERS WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE HANDLED QUIETLY, DISCREETLY AND EFFECTIVELY
ACCORDING TO CHINESE LAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMANITARIAN
PRINCIPLES. U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS ARE GOOD, EVEN THOUGH WE
MAY DIFFER ON HUMAN RIGHTS, HE EMPHASIZED. CUI URGED U.S.
SUPPORT FOR THE CANDIDACY BY HONG KONG'S MARGARET CHAN TO
HEAD THE WHO. END SUMMARY.

URGING CONTINUED COOPERATION ON NORTH KOREANS IN CHINA
-------------- --------------


2. (C) IN A BILATERAL MEETING WITH AFM CUI TIANKAI PRIOR TO
THE AUGUST 9 OPENING OF THE SECOND U.S.-CHINA GLOBAL ISSUES
FORUM (GIF),UNDER SECRETARY FOR DEMOCRACY AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
PAULA DOBRIANSKY URGED CHINA TO CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH
THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES IN ADDRESSING
CASES OF NORTH KOREANS IN CHINA. SHE THANKED CUI FOR CHINA'S
DISCREET HANDLING OF THE NORTH KOREANS WHO ENTERED OUR
CONSULATE GENERAL IN SHENYANG. CUI SAID CHINA WILL CONTINUE
TO HANDLE THE CASES OF NORTH KOREAN BORDER CROSSERS QUIETLY,
DISCREETLY AND EFFECTIVELY ACCORDING TO CHINESE LAW,
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES. DOBRIANSKY
URGED A FOCUS ON HUMANITARIAN TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO
MIGHT OTHERWISE FACE RETURN TO NORTH KOREA AND NOTED THAT THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHERS ARE WILLING TO TAKE SUCH REFUGEES.


HUMAN RIGHTS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS
--------------


3. (C) DURING RECENT MEETINGS BETWEEN PRESIDENT BUSH AND
PRESIDENT HU, THE UNITED STATES HAS URGED CHINA TO MAKE
PROGRESS IN SIX AREAS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, DOBRIANSKY REMINDED
CUI. SHE ALSO EXPRESSED OUR STRONG CONCERN ABOUT THE
PROSECUTION OF REBIYA KADEER'S FAMILY MEMBERS IN CHINA. CUI
CLAIMED THAT CHINA ACTED CONSISTENT WITH PRC LEGAL PRACTICE.
U/S DOBRIANSKY SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS DIFFICULTY
UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL REASONS FOR SUCH ACTIONS. SHE
STRESSED THAT THE USG HOPES CHINA WILL REDRESS THESE WRONGS.


4. (C) AFM CUI ACKNOWLEDGED HE HAD DISCUSSED THE SIX AREAS OF
CONCERN WITH DRL A/S LOWENKRON IN FEBRUARY AND LATER RAISED
FOUR AREAS OF CHINESE CONCERN ON HUMAN RIGHTS. CHINA HAS
"DONE WHAT IT CAN WITHIN THE CONFINES OF CHINESE LAW," CUI
SAID. EVEN WHERE THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA DIFFER, AS ON
SOME INDIVIDUAL CASES, CHINA WILL CONTINUE COMMUNICATION AND,
WHERE POSSIBLE, COORDINATION WITH THE UNITED STATES, CUI
PLEDGED. DURING A RECENT HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE WITH
AUSTRALIA, CUI SAID HE MADE THE POINT THAT THE PROCESS OF
IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA IS "DEMAND DRIVEN." CHINA
WELCOMES FRIENDLY ADVICE AND EVEN CRITICISM, BUT THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS WILL DECIDE THE COURSE OF HUMAN
RIGHTS IN CHINA AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL PLACE ITS NATIONAL
INTEREST ABOVE ALL ELSE.


5. (C) WITHIN THE UN, CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, CUI SAID. CHINA
HOPES TO WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL, HE SAID, AND IS SURE THE UNITED STATES WILL JOIN
CHINA ON THE COUNCIL "SOONER OR LATER."


6. (C) U/S DOBRIANSKY REPLIED THAT CHINA IS WELL AWARE OF THE
REASONS THE UNITED STATES DID NOT JOIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL AND KNOWS THE USG REMAINS COMMITTED TO WORKING ON
HUMAN RIGHTS BILATERALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. RULE OF LAW IS
JUST ONE COMPONENT OF ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS, SHE SAID,
NOTING THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD CHANGED ITS LAWS OVER TIME
TO BETTER PROTECT INDIVIDUALS. SHE URGED CHINA TO CONSIDER
WITH AN OPEN MIND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES THE UNITED STATES
HAS RAISED.

CHINA PUSHES WHO CANDIDATE FROM HONG KONG
--------------


7. (C) AFM CUI URGED THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT HONG KONG'S


MARGARET CHAN AS THE NEW HEAD OF THE WHO. U/S DOBRIANSKY
SAID SHE KNOWS CHAN PERSONALLY AND HER STRONG QUALIFICATIONS.
THE UNITED STATES WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SEPTEMBER
DEADLINE FOR ANNOUNCING CANDIDATES BEFORE IT DECIDES WHOM TO
SUPPORT FROM AMONG THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES, SHE SAID.

PREVIEWING THE GLOBAL ISSUES FORUM
--------------


8. (C) FINALLY, DOBRIANSKY AND CUI PREVIEWED TOPICS THEY
WOULD ADDRESS IN THE AUGUST 9-10 U.S.-CHINA GLOBAL ISSUES
FORUM. DOBRIANSKY HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOSE
COOPERATION ON ENERGY SECURITY, THE ASIA PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP
ON CLEAN DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE AS WELL AS AVIAN INFLUENZA.
SHE URGED CHINA TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO SUGGESTIONS FOR
ADDRESSING PROBLEMS IN TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. AFM CUI SAID
NO COUNTRY CAN ISOLATE ITSELF FROM COOPERATION ON GLOBAL
ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE A
SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS GLOBAL
ISSUES, HE SAID, NOTING HE LOOKS FORWARD TO DISCUSSIONS THAT
WILL TOUCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS.
RANDT