PORTUGAL REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR HRC CANDIDACY:

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000797

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PHUM UN IR PO EVN
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR HRC CANDIDACY:
MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR BOLTON

REF: USUN 624

Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative
to the United Nations, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

(C) 1. SUMMARY: Ambassador Bolton met April 11 with
Portugal's PermRep Ambassador Joao Salguiero, who requested
U.S. support for Portugal's candidacy to the Human Rights
Council (HRC). Regarding the existing announced candidacies
for the HRC, Salguiero said that he did not anticipate that
any of the existing WEOG candidates would withdraw, and with
regard to other regions' candidacies, he noted Portugal's
general position that it is important to have "good examples"
on the Council, "not more of the same." Regarding the
African slate, he said he believes the African Group intended
to present a clean slate, and he believes there is "no room"
on it now for Sudan or Zimbabwe. Ambassador Bolton raised
Iran with Salguiero, expressing concern with Iran's April 11
announcement that it had attained a higher level of
enrichment capability. Salguiero said the EU General Affairs
Council had met on Monday and Tuesday, and he would try to
obtain a report of the meeting regarding Iran and share this
with Ambassador Bolton. END SUMMARY.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND PORTUGAL'S CANDIDACY


2. (SBU) Ambassador Bolton met April 11 with Portugal's
PermRep Ambassador Joao Salguiero, at the latter's request,
to discuss Portugal's candidacy to the Human Rights Council
(HRC). (Note: Portugal is one of nine current declared
candidates for seven WEOG seats on the Council. End Note.)
Salguiero requested U.S. support for the candidacy, citing
six key reasons. Among his arguments in favor of Portugal's
candidacy, Salguiero noted that Portugal will serve as EU
President after Finland and Germany, and that Portugal will
also serve as President/Chair of the Community of Democracies
from 2007-2009. Salguiero argued that it is important for
the EU President and the CD chair to be a member of the HRC
(rather than an observer) in order to play the most positive
and productive role possible. Salguiero also cited strong
bilateral relations with the United States (noting also that
Portugal had stepped back from previous candidacies in favor
of the United States and is generally selective in which
candidacies it presents),and Portugal's good dialogue with
members of the African Group, which will also play an
important role in the new Council. He said that Portugal is
the only country from "southwest Europe" running for the
Council (although he recognized that there are seven EU
countries which have declared their candidacies). Finally,
he pointed to Portugal's strong record on human rights issues
and shared a copy of Portugal's pledges and commitments in
relation to its candidacy. He noted that similar points on
Portugal's candidacy had been delivered to the Department in
Washington.


3. (C) Ambassador Bolton expressed appreciation for
Salguiero's points and noted Portugal's strong qualifications
for the HRC. Referring to Secretary Rice's statements that
the United States will work to get the best candidates
possible elected to the Council, the Ambassador asked for
Salguiero's thoughts on the upcoming election and existing
candidacies and slates. Salguiero said that he did not
anticipate that any of the existing WEOG candidates would
withdraw; Ambassador Bolton suggested that in the future it
might be beneficial for WEOG members to consider presenting a
clean slate, rather than campaigning against each other and
having some members trade votes with less than optimal
candidate countries. Salguiero agreed that countries should
be careful regarding vote trading for the HRC, and he noted
Portugal's general position that it is important to have
"good examples" on the Council, "not more of the same."
Regarding the African slate, he said he believes the African
Group intended to present a clean slate, and he believes
there is "no room" on it now for Sudan or Zimbabwe. (Note:
In addition to announced and rumored candidacies shared by
USUN with Washington, Salguiero listed Tanzania as a
candidate country. End Note.) He said, however, that
Mauritius had not been expected to announce its candidacy,
and it was unclear whether Mauritius would drop out in favor
of another country to allow for a clean African slate. He
also noted that for the North African sub-region, it was
possible that either Algeria or Morocco would step down to
allow Egypt to run for the Council on a clean slate.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON RAISES IRAN


4. (C) Ambassador Bolton raised Iran with Salguiero,
expressing concern with Iran's April 11 announcement that it
had attained a higher level of enrichment capability. Noting
that the IAEA's El Baradei will be arriving in Tehran


shortly, the Ambassador said Iran's announcement demonstrates
that Iran is not paying attention to the Security Council
statement, and he said that after El Baradei reports to the
Council on April 28, the United States will look at the
possibility of a Chapter 7 resolution in the Council. He
requested European support, both in the Council and in
helping with others, and asked if Salguiero could provide
more information on European discussions this week regarding
possible steps. Salguiero said the EU General Affairs
Council had met on Monday and Tuesday, but he did not have
(or had not seen) any report on the issue of Iran. He said
he would try to obtain a report of the meeting and share this
with Ambassador Bolton.

BOLTON