ITALY SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001222 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016 TAGS: KUNR OPDC PREL PHUM IT UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS SUBJECT: ITALY SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL VOTE REF: A. STATE 57036 ¶B. STATE 55461 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) April 11 PolMinCouns informed Giacomo Sanfelice, Deputy Director General for Political Multilateral Affairs, of Reftel A letter from Secretary Rice to FM Fini and explained the U.S. position on supporting candidate countries in the first UN Human Rights Council (HRC) elections. Poloff followed up April 11, delivering Reftel A letter and Reftel B demarche, announcing the U.S. decision not to run for a seat on the HRC this year, to Alessandro Busacca, MFA UN Reform Coordinator. ¶2. (C) Although there would be no official "EU blacklist" in voting for HRC candidates, Busacca reaffirmed the EU pledge not/not to support countries with poor human rights records. In an EU discussion the week of April 3, member countries agreed not to support any countries currently under sanctions for human rights abuses, and might consider forming EU criteria at a later point, according to Busacca. Poloff stressed the U.S. commitment to campaign on behalf of candidate countries with good human rights records, and against those who are systematic abusers. Busacca noted that he did not see Italy voting in favor of any of the countries listed in Reftel B points (Iran, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Burma, Sudan, North Korea),and that either a center-right or center-left Italian government would be supportive of the same standards. ¶3. (C) Busacca noted that Italy would run for a Council seat in 2007, with the MFA carefully following these HRC elections and the body's work over the next year. Since Italy would be busy preparing for its UN Security Council candidacy and membership in the Peacebuilding Commission organizational committee this year, Busacca said Italy had decided not to further crowd the Western Europe and Others Group candidates list and focus on its current commitments. BORG