ASSESSMENT OF ROMANIA ON UNHRC ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000554

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TO UNDER SECRETARY BURNS FROM THE AMBASSADOR;
ALSO STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC RO
SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT OF ROMANIA ON UNHRC ELECTION

REF: A. STATE 63345


B. 2006 BUCHAREST 1741

Classified By: Ambassador Nicholas F. Taubman for reasons 1.4(b)(d).


1. (C) In my estimation, Romania will not support Belarus's
bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. That said,
Romania will not/not take an overtly visible role to block
Belarus unless it can do so as a footnote in support of U.S.
or preferably an agreed European Union position. While
Romania agrees with the general U.S. position on Belarus (as
reported ref. b) and will likely instruct its diplomats to
make any intervention along those lines as required, Romania
will also try to avoid over-exposure. Romania's support for
a possible Bosnian and Slovenian candidacy will be tied to a
coordinated EU position.


2. (C) On issues that do not directly impact Romania's
national security interests like this one, Romania's public
posturing will be nuanced so as not to antagonize some
members of the non-aligned movement mainly from the Middle
East and Asia with whom Romania continues to maintain
positive historical relationships. Romania is keen to
maintain positive relationships with certain members of the
non-aligned movement that at times have been antagonistic to
what some members may describe as U.S. paternalism ) Iran is
an example. In the GOR's estimation, it would like to play
&honest broker8 to help resolve conflicts of interest
especially between the U.S. and other NAM members; a role
that still has historical resonance in Bucharest. Belarus,
on the other hand, is not an issue that would require an
honest broker, however, it is also highly unlikely that any
of the &swing votes8 identified in ref A would have any
leverage to affect Romanian thinking or vice versa.
TAUBMAN