FRENCH MFA URGES CLOSE CONSULTATION ON HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002358

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2016
TAGS: KUNR PREL PHUM UNGA FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA URGES CLOSE CONSULTATION ON HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL

REF: STATE 55461

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah B. Rosenblatt. Reas
ons 1.4b,d


1. Summary: (C) IO DAS-Equivalent Beatrice Le Fraper du
Hellen on April 7 regretted that the Human Rights Council
(HRC) would be a less credible institution without USG
participation. However, she admitted that she herself had
urged the MFA not to seek an HRC seat in 2006, but to wait
until 2007 when members would be elected for full three-year
terms. With the U.S. absent, Le Fraper urged regular
French-U.S. dialogue so that USG equities could be taken into
account. She warned that the EU may put forward a
Guantanamo-related resolution, but suggested that the EU had
learned lessons from the fracas over renditions at the
Council of Europe. Le Fraper lauded the U.S. aim to
encourage the HRC to address the worst human rights abusing
nations, including Iran. She suggested that France had lost
patience with Zimbabwe in the domain of human rights,
although the French UN delegation in New York chafed at any
confrontation with the Africa Group. Lastly, Le Fraper
mentioned that France and Argentina would roll out a draft
convention on enforced disappearances at the HRC. End
Summary.


2. (C) IO DAS-Equivalent Beatrice Le Fraper du Hellen on
April 7 regretted that the Human Rights Council would be a
less credible institution without USG participation (ref).
She tempered her disappointment however with the observation
that she had likewise argued -- but without success -- that
France not seek an HRC seat in 2006. From a tactical
standpoint, it was smarter to hold off until 2007 in order to
obtain a guaranteed a full 3-year term on the Council.
Candidates this year, she explained to Poloff, were competing
for 1-year, 2-year or 3-year terms on the newly launched HRC;
in future, terms would run for three years. Le Fraper
bemoaned that France now had to launch a worldwide diplomatic
campaign for a seat without knowing in advance the length of
the term it would be alloted on the Council, which would be
determined later by lottery. Le Fraper asked for USG support
for the French candidacy. Le Fraper believed that the USG
would have at least as much influence as actual seated HRC
members on debates about establishing standard HRC procedures
during the inaugural year, because that policy would be
articulated through regional groups.


3. (C) With the U.S. absent from the HRC, Le Fraper urged
regular French-U.S. dialogue so that USG equities could be
taken into account. She noted the French and American
Geneva-based delegations enjoyed good relations. Regular
consulatations were crucial, especially given the possibility
that some EU member would lobby to advance a resolution on
Guantanamo detainees. However, Le Fraper believed the fracas
over renditions at the Council of Europe had been salutary,
if only for cautioning EU members that they should tread
lightly, since European governments lacked full awareness of
what transpired on their own territory, whether with or
without direct government complicity.


4. (C) Le Fraper lauded the USG aim to actively encourage
the HRC to address serious cases of human rights abuse in
countries such as Iran, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Burma, Sudan and
South Korea. FM Douste-Blazy was now particularly exercised
about Iran, she said. Moreover, France had lost patience
with Zimbabwe, Le Fraper insisted, pointing to French support
for a human rights-related UNGA resolution, a policy
decision, she added, that had vexed the French delegation in
New York, which had preferred not to roil the waters with the
Africa Group.


5. (C) Le Fraper forewarned that France and Argentina would
be introducing a new draft legal convention about enforced
disappearances at the HRC. She regretted that the USG would
not be present at the Council for discussions, but Argentina
in particular was keen on rolling out the draft this year,
which marks the 30th anniversary of the launching of the
so-called "Dirty War." The draft would also be presented at
the General Assembly. French involvement in the initiative
dated to 1978, after the disappearance of French citizens in
Argentina. Le Fraper commented she knew of U.S.
sensitivities about possible ramifications in the context of
the detention of non-state actors. The Government of
Colombia, Fraper added, had also had expressed concerns, yet
now appeared ready to support the draft. (Note: Human Rights

PARIS 00002358 002 OF 002


Desk Officer Donatienne Hissard clarified on April 10 that
the U.S. had joined consensus on negotiations of the
convention while nonetheless expressing reserves about the
"Right to Truth," e.g. the rights of victims to information
about the circumstances of their detention, as well as other
rights for detainees.)

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Comment and BioNote: Le Fraper clearly sees the USG
as an indispensable player in the advocacy of human rights.
While worrying the HRC would lack weight without USG
membership, Le Fraper otherwise discounted the impact of USG
non-participation, apart from advising there would be a need
to consult closely in order to take USG equities into
account. Le Fraper said the MFA made an effort to avoid
dramatization of the U.S. decision in exchanges with the
press and with NGOs. Bionote: Le Fraper mentioned that her
sister, Dorothe Le Fraper du Hellen, was also a dedicated
human rights advocate, and a lawyer on the defense teams of
both Jose Bove and Zacarias Moussaoui. Le Fraper mentioned
she had just accompanied her sister to the U.S. consulate to
apply for an expedited visa so that she could make an
emergency trip to the trial. Le Fraper mentioned that MFA,
especially MFA spokesman Mattei, has been taking great pains
to work hand in glove with the USG with regard to the
Moussaoui trial.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
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Stapleton