Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA527
2006-04-13 14:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA'S VIEW ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
how-toVZCZCXRO3844 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSF #0527 1031434 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 131434Z APR 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1748 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
UNCLAS SOFIA 000527
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA'S VIEW ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: (A) STATE 57036, (B) STATE 55461
UNCLAS SOFIA 000527
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA'S VIEW ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: (A) STATE 57036, (B) STATE 55461
1. (U) We delivered reftel A talking points to Ambassador
Kamen Velichkov, Director of the MFA's UN and Global Issues
Directorate, on 12 April. Velichkov stressed the importance
of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to Bulgaria's UN agenda,
and said that the Foreign Minister might raise the issue
with Secretary Rice during her visit to Sofia later this
month.
2. (SBU) Velichkov did not commit Bulgaria to a specific
course of action, but said Bulgaria shared the U.S.'s view
that Human Rights Council candidates must be held to a high
standard. He said that Bulgaria would fully implement any
EU consensus criteria for HRC candidates. Referencing the
list of problematic countries mentioned in reftel B,
Velichkov predicted that the EU would issue its own, larger,
list in the coming weeks. In the case of the HRC, Bulgaria
would first evaluate whether a country was a suitable
candidate based on democratic and human rights criteria, and
only then attempt to strike a deal for reciprocal support.
As an example, Velichkov cited an agreement Bulgaria had
reached with France to support its HRC candidacy in exchange
for French support for Bulgaria's ECOSOC bid.
3. (SBU) Velichkov said the GOB "regrets" the U.S. decision
not to run and worried that the geographical allocation of
the council led to a situation where "the Eastern European
group has three candidates per seat, while the African group
has three seats per candidate." He also suggested that
membership in the Community of Democracies could be a
valuable criteria for HRC candidates.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA'S VIEW ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: (A) STATE 57036, (B) STATE 55461
1. (U) We delivered reftel A talking points to Ambassador
Kamen Velichkov, Director of the MFA's UN and Global Issues
Directorate, on 12 April. Velichkov stressed the importance
of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to Bulgaria's UN agenda,
and said that the Foreign Minister might raise the issue
with Secretary Rice during her visit to Sofia later this
month.
2. (SBU) Velichkov did not commit Bulgaria to a specific
course of action, but said Bulgaria shared the U.S.'s view
that Human Rights Council candidates must be held to a high
standard. He said that Bulgaria would fully implement any
EU consensus criteria for HRC candidates. Referencing the
list of problematic countries mentioned in reftel B,
Velichkov predicted that the EU would issue its own, larger,
list in the coming weeks. In the case of the HRC, Bulgaria
would first evaluate whether a country was a suitable
candidate based on democratic and human rights criteria, and
only then attempt to strike a deal for reciprocal support.
As an example, Velichkov cited an agreement Bulgaria had
reached with France to support its HRC candidacy in exchange
for French support for Bulgaria's ECOSOC bid.
3. (SBU) Velichkov said the GOB "regrets" the U.S. decision
not to run and worried that the geographical allocation of
the council led to a situation where "the Eastern European
group has three candidates per seat, while the African group
has three seats per candidate." He also suggested that
membership in the Community of Democracies could be a
valuable criteria for HRC candidates.
BEYRLE