DARFUR: CHINA SEEKS CONSENSUS RESOLUTION IN HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001986 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHCR CH SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: CHINA SEEKS CONSENSUS RESOLUTION IN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: A. STATE 36889 ¶B. BEIJING 01966 Classified By: Acting External Unit Chief Eric N. Richardson Reasons 1.4 (B/D). ¶1. (C) China believes the Human Rights Council should address the issue of Darfur and is urging the European Union and Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) to find a consensus text on a resolution, MFA International Organizations Department Human Rights Division Director Dong Zhihua told poloff in response to delivery of ref A demarche. The EU Troika delivered a demarche on its proposed resolution text earlier this week in Beijing, Dong said. At that time, she urged them to seek consensus with the OIC and even the Sudanese government, because Beijing feels a consensus text would add to the authority of any resolution. ¶2. (C) Poloff emphasized that, should China support the competing Algerian-sponsored resolution that seeks to protect Sudan from criticism on Darfur, it would likely face further international criticism of the type that resulted in recent French calls for a boycott of the 2008 Olympics (ref B). Dong agreed that China seeks to avoid such publicity and therefore is pushing for a text agreeable to all parties. ¶3. (C) Separately, Poloff spoke with International Organizations Department UN Division Deputy Director Yao Shaojun, who said China sees no connection between the Human Rights Council vote and discussions on Darfur in New York. RANDT