Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA1080
2006-04-13 13:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN/EU VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
how-toVZCZCXRO2483 OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ DE RUEHVI #1080 1031333 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 131333Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3089 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 001080
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KUNR OPDC PREL PHUM UNGA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN/EU VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 56707
This message is sensitive but unclassified.
UNCLAS VIENNA 001080
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KUNR OPDC PREL PHUM UNGA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN/EU VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 56707
This message is sensitive but unclassified.
1. (SBU) EconPolOff delivered reftel points on April 12 to
Engelbert Theuermann, MFA A/S-equivalent for Human Rights.
We also provided a copy of the pledge letter we delivered to
Foreign Minister Plassnik on April 11. Theuermann, speaking
for the EU Presidency, said that the EU's views are similar
to those of the USG: the EU member states have also pledged
not to vote for systematic violators of human rights,
particularly those who under UN sanctions for human rights
violations. However, the EU does not intend to develop a
"blacklist," as it believes that drawing attention to the
violators in this way could backfire, even raising support
for these countries.
2. (SBU) The EU's "common approach" to the Human Rights
Council (HRC) elections is new territory for the EU,
Theuermann said. Fundamental to its approach is avoiding a
clean slate in its regional grouping, in order to help
prevent "clean states" in Asia and elsewhere. Clean slate
elections would make it virtually impossible for the EU and
U.S. to prevent the election of countries known for human
rights abuses to the Council, he thought.
McCaw
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KUNR OPDC PREL PHUM UNGA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN/EU VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 56707
This message is sensitive but unclassified.
1. (SBU) EconPolOff delivered reftel points on April 12 to
Engelbert Theuermann, MFA A/S-equivalent for Human Rights.
We also provided a copy of the pledge letter we delivered to
Foreign Minister Plassnik on April 11. Theuermann, speaking
for the EU Presidency, said that the EU's views are similar
to those of the USG: the EU member states have also pledged
not to vote for systematic violators of human rights,
particularly those who under UN sanctions for human rights
violations. However, the EU does not intend to develop a
"blacklist," as it believes that drawing attention to the
violators in this way could backfire, even raising support
for these countries.
2. (SBU) The EU's "common approach" to the Human Rights
Council (HRC) elections is new territory for the EU,
Theuermann said. Fundamental to its approach is avoiding a
clean slate in its regional grouping, in order to help
prevent "clean states" in Asia and elsewhere. Clean slate
elections would make it virtually impossible for the EU and
U.S. to prevent the election of countries known for human
rights abuses to the Council, he thought.
McCaw