Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GENEVA1610
2006-06-29 05:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:
HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
how-toVZCZCXRO4260 RR RUEHAT DE RUEHGV #1610 1800520 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 290520Z JUN 06 FM USMISSION GENEVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0210 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1447 INFO RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0465 RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 1365 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0941 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0175 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0140 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0043 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0506 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0372 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0192 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4649 RUEHLS/AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 0283 RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0111 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0514 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 2325 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0271 RUEHPL/AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS 0200 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0677 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 4179 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0360 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0527 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0649 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3443 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0449 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 1179 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0046
UNCLAS GENEVA 001610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
UNCLAS GENEVA 001610
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
1. Summary: The Western Human Rights Group met June 27 to
review the state of play at the Human Rights Council. Swiss
Ambassador Blaise Godet, the Western Group's Bureau
representative, reported on the Bureau's June 26 meeting, at
which the priority was President de Alba's effort to avoid a
Palestinian resolution on Israel's human rights practices.
Godet also briefed on President de Alba's current thinking
regarding the Council's methods of work and the modalities
for the mechanisms being considered for universal periodic
review and mandate review. End Summary.
Council Methods of Work
--------------
2. De Alba and the bureau also discussed in the June 26
meeting possible new categories of Council instruments which
would supplement the use of resolutions. Godet reported that
such instruments might include a "Council statement" or
"President's statement," to minimize (or avoid) the tabling
of resolutions, and minimize confrontation. Mission is
seeking clarification on this proposal from Swiss and Mexican
counterparts, as we are concerned that effort to "minimize
confrontation" could be used as a excuse to eliminate the use
of country resolutions. We will report as soon as we have
further information.
UPR/Proposed Program of Work
--------------
3. Godet reported that Ambassador de Alba intends to
personally oversee the process of reviewing all mandates from
the Commission on Human Rights. According to Godet, De Alba
intends to end this session of the HRC with a short paper
outlining his views on how mandate review should be handled.
De Alba also wants to establish a facilitation process to
oversee the Universal Peer Review and review of mandates,
which might also be handled through two working groups.
Godet also reported that de Alba plans to create a "Friends
of the Chair" group to replace the multi-regional Fox Group,
which is being phased out. Further informals on the program
of work will be held June 29, and the bureau anticipates a
final decision on the issue by the end of the Council session
on June 30.
TICHENOR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLA, L/HRR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: HRC: JUNE 27 WESTERN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP MEETING
1. Summary: The Western Human Rights Group met June 27 to
review the state of play at the Human Rights Council. Swiss
Ambassador Blaise Godet, the Western Group's Bureau
representative, reported on the Bureau's June 26 meeting, at
which the priority was President de Alba's effort to avoid a
Palestinian resolution on Israel's human rights practices.
Godet also briefed on President de Alba's current thinking
regarding the Council's methods of work and the modalities
for the mechanisms being considered for universal periodic
review and mandate review. End Summary.
Council Methods of Work
--------------
2. De Alba and the bureau also discussed in the June 26
meeting possible new categories of Council instruments which
would supplement the use of resolutions. Godet reported that
such instruments might include a "Council statement" or
"President's statement," to minimize (or avoid) the tabling
of resolutions, and minimize confrontation. Mission is
seeking clarification on this proposal from Swiss and Mexican
counterparts, as we are concerned that effort to "minimize
confrontation" could be used as a excuse to eliminate the use
of country resolutions. We will report as soon as we have
further information.
UPR/Proposed Program of Work
--------------
3. Godet reported that Ambassador de Alba intends to
personally oversee the process of reviewing all mandates from
the Commission on Human Rights. According to Godet, De Alba
intends to end this session of the HRC with a short paper
outlining his views on how mandate review should be handled.
De Alba also wants to establish a facilitation process to
oversee the Universal Peer Review and review of mandates,
which might also be handled through two working groups.
Godet also reported that de Alba plans to create a "Friends
of the Chair" group to replace the multi-regional Fox Group,
which is being phased out. Further informals on the program
of work will be held June 29, and the bureau anticipates a
final decision on the issue by the end of the Council session
on June 30.
TICHENOR