UN HRC: SLOVAKIA WILL VOTE AGAINST IRAN, CUBA,

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000355 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UN UNSC LO SUBJECT: UN HRC: SLOVAKIA WILL VOTE AGAINST IRAN, CUBA, VENEZUELA REF: STATE 66050 ¶1. (SBU) DCM delivered reftel demarche on Iran's candidacy for the Human Rights Council (HRC) May 4 to MFA State Secretary (Deputy Minister) Magda Vasaryova. Vasaryova has SIPDIS direct responsibility for Slovakia's UN portfolio at the MFA. She assured us that Slovakia would oppose Iran's membership. Vasaryova added that Slovakia is not happy with many things at the UN, and is trying to support positive reforms. The creation of the UN HRC was one such positive reform. ¶2. (SBU) Vasaryova shared with us Slovakia's current voting instructions to its UN Mission in New York going into the May 9 UN HCR elections. As of May 4, she said, Slovakia is prepared to vote as follows: AFRICA: Slovakia will support the candidacy of South Africa. ASIA: Slovakia will support China, Japan, and Indonesia, but will not / not support North Korea or Iran. EASTERN EUROPE: Slovakia will support Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Russia. It will not / not support Armenia or Azerbaijan. WESTERN EUROPE: Slovakia will support Greece, Germany, Finland, France, Portugal, Canada, and the Netherlands. GRULAC: Slovakia will support Mexico. It will not / not support Cuba or Venezuela. VALLEE