Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA574
2006-02-24 15:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIA ON TRANSITION TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #0574 0551540 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241540Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2498 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0075 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1296 RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0298
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000574
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP AND EUR/PGI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM UN EUN AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA ON TRANSITION TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
STEPPING STONE TO BROADER UN REFORM?
REF: A) STATE 04745 B) STATE 04746
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Gregory E. Phillips
Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000574
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP AND EUR/PGI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM UN EUN AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA ON TRANSITION TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
STEPPING STONE TO BROADER UN REFORM?
REF: A) STATE 04745 B) STATE 04746
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Gregory E. Phillips
Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) EmbOffs discussed UN reform issues on February 16
with MFA's International Organizations head, Dr. Helmut
Boeck. On CHR reform, Boeck noted that UNGA President
Eliasson would propose a new draft on February 21, but that
the window of opportunity for completing this reform, in the
GoA's view, would close by the end of February. He told us
that the GoA, both as a UN Member State and in its role as
the EU Presidency, endorsed the necessity of a thorough
overhaul. He also said the GoA thought the Human Rights
Council (HRC) had to be a significant improvement over the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR). He said Austria has
conveyed this view to Eliasson. Achieving resolution on the
HRC issues would be an "enormous push forward" for all UN
reform, Boeck noted.
2. (C) Boeck reiterated EU concerns regarding the
possibility of a full-fledged CHR in the case of a failure to
reach agreement on the Human Rights Council. As a CHR member
and EU President, Austria had been deeply engaged in
preparing for this eventuality, he said.
3. (C) Regarding management/budget reform and mandate
review, Boeck said that some Member States, particularly the
G-77, view the push for reform as "Western." In order to
bring them on board, he thought, it would be necessary to
hold out the perspective of a "balance" involving reform of
ECOSOC and a new focus on development issues.
McCaw
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP AND EUR/PGI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM UN EUN AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA ON TRANSITION TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
STEPPING STONE TO BROADER UN REFORM?
REF: A) STATE 04745 B) STATE 04746
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Gregory E. Phillips
Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) EmbOffs discussed UN reform issues on February 16
with MFA's International Organizations head, Dr. Helmut
Boeck. On CHR reform, Boeck noted that UNGA President
Eliasson would propose a new draft on February 21, but that
the window of opportunity for completing this reform, in the
GoA's view, would close by the end of February. He told us
that the GoA, both as a UN Member State and in its role as
the EU Presidency, endorsed the necessity of a thorough
overhaul. He also said the GoA thought the Human Rights
Council (HRC) had to be a significant improvement over the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR). He said Austria has
conveyed this view to Eliasson. Achieving resolution on the
HRC issues would be an "enormous push forward" for all UN
reform, Boeck noted.
2. (C) Boeck reiterated EU concerns regarding the
possibility of a full-fledged CHR in the case of a failure to
reach agreement on the Human Rights Council. As a CHR member
and EU President, Austria had been deeply engaged in
preparing for this eventuality, he said.
3. (C) Regarding management/budget reform and mandate
review, Boeck said that some Member States, particularly the
G-77, view the push for reform as "Western." In order to
bring them on board, he thought, it would be necessary to
hold out the perspective of a "balance" involving reform of
ECOSOC and a new focus on development issues.
McCaw