DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HRC 5TH SESSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000778

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/MLGA - JORDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL EUN UNHRC RO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HRC 5TH SESSION

REF: A. STATE 091539


B. GENEVA 01609

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark A Taplin; Reasons 1.4(b) an
d (d).


1. (C) D/Pol chief delivered ref a demarche on July 3 to MFA
Director for OSCE and Human Rights Affairs Brandusa Predescu.
Predescu noted that the EU members were working from a
common position to obtain the compromises necessary to keep
the HRC process moving forward. She hoped the U.S. would
continue to work in a positive and cooperative manner on the
HRC issues, and asked for closer collaboration between not
only U.S. and Romania but also between U.S. and the EU.
Predescu said Romania shared the USG's disappointment over
the Belarus and Cuban mandates (and pointed out that the
rapporteur for the Belarus Country-Report was former Romanian
Foreign Minister Adrian Severin). Predescu remarked that
Romania shared common interests with the U.S. on the
functioning of the HRC, but noted that these were EU member
states' issues as well. She emphasized that the Fifth Session
results do not mean there is no need for the HRC to observe
the situations in problem countries. She reiterated that the
adapted package was "the best compromise that could be
obtained in the given circumstances. We will have to live
with them."


2. (C) Predescu said both the EU and Romania as current
president of the HRC want to preserve the achievements made
in the fifth session (UPR),and work on the basis of the
achieved positive elements. She argued that the UPR has all
the potential to continue to help "like-minded countries" to
monitor where the human rights situation is the most serious.
On Canada, Predescu said that Romania supported Canada on
substance, but not procedurally. She claimed that the
documents were under consensus rule silence until June 18,
thus when Canada tried to raise its point on June 19, it was
after adoption. (NOTE: Predescu's version of events vary
from ref b's chronology; Post shared with Predescu the
sequence outlined in the background paper. End note.)
Predescu wanted to make sure the USG understood that "no one
was happy with the outcome; no one got their own way on the
package." She singled out the African and OIC groups as
being helpful in moving the compromise package forward. She
observed that "where we can find support, we need to do
outreach." Her final thoughts on this topic were to secure
the USG's constructive engagement in order to help the HRC to
function before we start drawing conclusions on its
effectiveness. Predescu noted that the EU would be
conducting its own internal evaluations, and suggested the
U.S. and EU hold human rights consultations and coordinate
more closely their respective approaches.


3. (C) Comment: We believe that the GOR will not work
outside the EU member state consensus -- especially in the
area of human rights -- provided there is a consensus that
does not impact negatively Romania's more immediate strategic
interests (e.g. in the western Balkans and the Black Sea, as
two examples). The GOR is eager to prove itself competent
and professional across a broad spectrum of international
forums -- but calculated to increase Romania's value and
standing as a new member of the EU. End comment.
TAUBMAN