UNHRC ELECTION: MFA UNDERSECRETARY SIGNALS TURKEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001181 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI, AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC TU BO BK SI SUBJECT: UNHRC ELECTION: MFA UNDERSECRETARY SIGNALS TURKEY WILL VOTE FOR BOSNIA AND SLOVENIA REF: A. STATE 63345 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. ANKARA 1111 ¶C. ANKARA 1101 ¶D. ANKARA 1151 Classified By: POL External Chief David Burger for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador raised the UN Human Rights Council election issue (ref a) during a May 15 meeting covering various topics with MFA Undersecretary (D-equivalent) Apakan. Ambassador noted that the candidacies of Slovenia and Bosnia should simplify Turkey's decision on whom to vote for and reiterated U.S. opposition to Belarus. Apakan seemed pleased at the news of Bosnia's candidacy and strongly suggested that Turkey will support it and Slovenia. ¶2. (SBU) Addressees should note that this message and ref b provide the most recent information on the GOT's position on this issue. Ref d is simply a retransmission of ref c, which reported on Turkey's reaction prior to the news that Bosnia agreed to ruin for the Council. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON