DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SEEKING EU-COORDINATED

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000219 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE AARON JENSEN EUR/PGI, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC RO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SEEKING EU-COORDINATED APPROACH TO UNHRC EEG CANDIDATES REF: SECSTATE 21984 ¶1. (U) POLOFF delivered demarche to MFA Deputy Director for the UN and Specialized Institutions Directorate, Eugen Mihut, on February 25. Mihut told POLOFF that based on the U.S. support of Bosnia for a soon-to-be-vacant UN Human Rights Council (HCR) seat his office would also support Bosnia for the seat. Mihut speculated that the leadership in the MFA would support his office's recommendation but gave no guarantees. Mihut said that he would have Romanian UN Mission check to see if Bosnia had officially put in its candidacy. He suggested that Bosnia become active in gaining support from other countries. ¶2. (U) On a separate note, Mihut said that the MFA Director for OSCE, Council of Europe and Human Rights, Brandusa Predescu had met her counterparts at the State Department and discussed the possibility of the U.S running for a seat on the HCR. Mihut inquired if any decisions had been taken regarding this; Romania strongly encouraged the U.S. to run for a seat. TAUBMAN