DUTCH ENCOURAGE U.S. TO SEEK HRC SEAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000659 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR P, IO/RHS (D. ROHN AND S. MEHRA),IO (K. SILVERBERG),DRL (A/S B. LOWENKRON) E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2011 TAGS: PHUM PREL KUNR NL SUBJECT: DUTCH ENCOURAGE U.S. TO SEEK HRC SEAT Classified By: Ambassador R. Arnall, for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch are actively encouraging the U.S. to seek a seat on the new UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Post believes the Dutch recommendation deserves serious consideration in light of Dutch international credibility on Human Rights issues and the strong Dutch interest in coordinating with the U.S. in Human Rights fora. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On March 27, Dutch MFA Director General for Political Affairs Hugo Siblesz expressed strong support for a U.S. candidacy to the new UN Human Rights Council and urged Ambassador Arnall to convey this message to Washington. According to Siblesz, ambiguities from the resolution forming the HRC, such as the system of special rapporteurs and the role of NGOs, need to be resolved, and the U.S. is uniquely placed to influence this effort positively. A U.S. candidacy would also remove any lingering doubts about the U.S. commitment to the success of the HRC, he noted. ¶3. (C) Peter van der Vliet, Head of Political and Legal Affairs for the MFA UN and IFIs Department, later told POLOFF that it is essential that like-minded nations sit on the HRC. The GONL expects at least ten candidacies for the seven Western Europe and Other Group (WEOG) seats and wants to avoid the election of potential spoilers. He did not elaborate. ¶4. (C) The Dutch are exploring a Benelux rotation and will decide in a few days whether to run. They are highly likely to support a U.S. candidacy, according to v/d Vliet, but will wait until then to make a decision. ¶5. (C) Siblesz made clear that encouraging the U.S. to seek a seat on the HRC is a top Dutch priority. In addition to passing the message directly to Ambassador Arnall, the MFA today instructed its embassy to make similar points to high-level USG officials. HUFF