DJIBOUTI, THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, AND AFRICAN

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000473 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL PHUM DJ UN SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI, THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, AND AFRICAN CANDIDACIES REF: A. SECSTATE 56707 ¶B. SECSTATE 58079 ¶1. On April 16, Ambassador Ragsdale and Poloff (notetaker) delivered letter reftel A from Secretary Rice and reftel B talking points to Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. ¶2. Ambassador Ragsdale encouraged the Government of Djibouti not to support candidacies for UN Human Right Council membership from states that commit serious human rights violations. She specifically asked that Djibouti discourage candidacies of countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe. The Foreign Minister replied that Djibouti has received many letters from other African states asking for support of their candidates. The FM did not say which candidate Djibouti will support, but indicated that state groupings, such as the African Union, can impose and push common candidates forward. The Ambassador said she understood nine countries had officially declared for the 13 seats and asked if Djibouti would also be a candidate. The Foreign Minister said Djibouti would not be a candidate. ¶3. COMMENT: Although the Foreign Minister did not know beforehand the agenda items prepared by the Ambassador, he had read Secretary Rice's letter on the State Department website, and was also very much aware of the upcoming UN Human Rights Council vote on May 9th for the Africa Group's 13 seats. END COMMENT. RAGSDALE