Mongolian Will Not Run for UN Human Rights

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000313 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UN MG SUBJECT: Mongolian Will Not Run for UN Human Rights Council Refs: (A) State 057036, (B) State 020173 Sensitive But Unclassified -- Not for Internet Distribution ¶1. (SBU) On April 25, Charge and Poloff discussed the UN Human Rights Council election with MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs Ms. Enkhtsetseg. Enkhtsetseg said that Mongolia is now carefully considering the candidates for the new body, but voiced Mongolia's agreement that it is important to select countries which are credible. Regarding ref a's encouragement of Mongolia to run for the body, she stated that this is not an option, as Mongolia simply does not have the personnel or funding to participate for months at a time. ¶2. (SBU) Enkhtsetseg also urged that the U.S. reconsider its position that it will not support Mongolia's UNGA motion of support for the ICNRD (ref b). While she acknowledged that the ICNRD's openness to all countries is problematic, she noted that this has been true for years, yet the U.S. has continued to cosponsor resolutions. With the emergence of a clean resolution draft on April 20, which sought to meet the desires of the U.S. and other countries, she urged that the U.S. reconsider its position. Mongolia's goal is to have at least 110 cosponsors of the resolution, to match previous year's support levels, she stated. GOLDBECK