SLOVAK RESPONSE TO HUMAN RIGHTS DEMARCHE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000497 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IO, EUR/NCE, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EUN PREL UNGA SUBJECT: SLOVAK RESPONSE TO HUMAN RIGHTS DEMARCHE REF: STATE 122654 ¶1. (U) PolEcon Chief delivered reftel demarche to new head of the MFA Human Rights Office, Zuzana Topolska, on September ¶4. Topolska had just returned from leave, so was primarily in listening mode. She promised to convey U.S. views on the range of issues covered to the Slovak missions in Geneva and New York. Regarding the Third Committee, Topolska was not aware of any move to bypass its role in the review process for the HRC report, but expressed GOS support for maintaining long-standing precedent. Topolska confirmed EU plans to pursue a death penalty resolution, while stressing the EU's desire to craft a text that could be approved. She added that she was confident that the Portuguese Presidency would seek U.S. views early in the process. ¶2. (U) PolEcon Chief queried Topolska on the Ministry's plans for advancing Slovakia's Human Rights Council candidacy. Topolska noted that the competition (namely the Czechs) would be tough, but that the GOS had gotten some good pointers from the Slovenians on how to manage a successful campaign. Topolska lamented that her office would be managing both the campaign and the upcoming Slovak Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Council of Ministers concurrently, and with reduced staffing levels. (Comment. Emboffs are scheduled to meet with Topolska on September 10 to discuss the Human Rights Report. Topolska promised to update the Embassy on any new developments or information pertaining to the demarche, including on the deliberations of the EU working group on human rights which meets September 4-5. End Comment) VALLEE