ITALY SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON HRC AGENDA, SEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001794 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL IT SUBJECT: ITALY SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON HRC AGENDA, SEES OBSTACLES REF: A. STATE 78740 ¶B. ROME 1767 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Anna Borg for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) June 12 Deputy Chief of Mission Anna Borg reviewed U.S. priorities and concerns in advance of the first session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) with Italian MFA Deputy Political Director Giacomo Sanfelice, as per Reftel A. The DCM highlighted the need for a procedural session and U.S. objections to adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Sanfelice stressed that Italy wanted the HRC to get off on the right foot. He noted that Under Secretary Gianni Vernetti (whose portfolio includes human SIPDIS rights) would attend part of the inaugural session and would be engaged. ¶2. (C) June 13, Poloff followed up with MFA Office Director for Human Rights Laura Carpini and delivered Reftel A non-paper. Carpini echoed Sanfelice's comments, and noted that Italy hoped the HRC would prove to be a considerable improvement over the Commission, with a completely different tone. She stated that the EU was working to formulate a procedural agenda for the session, although there were obstacles: the Organization of the Islamic Conference was already presenting substantive agenda items. Though Italy was not a member of this year's HRC, Carpini indicated that the GOI would be following developments closely as Italy planned to run for a WEOG seat in 2007, and was working on shaping the agenda through the EU. Heading to Geneva on Saturday, Carpini said she still did not have a clear idea of how the session would be organized. She reiterated that Italy would follow the EU consensus on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, with no indication that additional negotiations would lead to a better document (Reftel B). BORG