Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO686
2007-05-10 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: NO DECISION YET ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO1207 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0686 1301241 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101241Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6015 INFO RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0002 RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK PRIORITY 0006 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0940 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3799 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0002 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7652 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5334 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0577 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2018 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000686
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS UNHRC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: NO DECISION YET ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL ELECTION
REF: A. STATE 63345
B. STATE 58056
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000686
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS UNHRC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: NO DECISION YET ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL ELECTION
REF: A. STATE 63345
B. STATE 58056
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) PolOff delivered ref B demarche to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for UN and Multilateral
Affairs Satya Rodrigo on May 4. Rodrigo agreed that electing
Belarus to the Human Rights Council (HRC) would send a signal
that human rights are of little concern to the international
community. He expressed interest in supporting Slovenia's
candidacy and asked if the Embassy had any information on
other Eastern European countries that might also put their
name forward.
2. (C) PolOff, per ref A, followed up with Rodrigo regarding
Bosnia's likely candidacy and eligibility. Rodrigo informed
PolOff on May 10 that no decision has been made regarding the
Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) HRC vote.
3. (C) Embassy believes that raising this issue at higher
levels could be counterproductive. The GSL would see a high
level approach as an opening to seek a favor in return when
the GSL comes under scrutiny at the Human Rights Council for
its own human rights abuses. Based on recent experience on
similar votes, it is also unlikely that the GSL would make a
firm commitment to support a particular candidate.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS UNHRC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: NO DECISION YET ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL ELECTION
REF: A. STATE 63345
B. STATE 58056
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) PolOff delivered ref B demarche to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for UN and Multilateral
Affairs Satya Rodrigo on May 4. Rodrigo agreed that electing
Belarus to the Human Rights Council (HRC) would send a signal
that human rights are of little concern to the international
community. He expressed interest in supporting Slovenia's
candidacy and asked if the Embassy had any information on
other Eastern European countries that might also put their
name forward.
2. (C) PolOff, per ref A, followed up with Rodrigo regarding
Bosnia's likely candidacy and eligibility. Rodrigo informed
PolOff on May 10 that no decision has been made regarding the
Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) HRC vote.
3. (C) Embassy believes that raising this issue at higher
levels could be counterproductive. The GSL would see a high
level approach as an opening to seek a favor in return when
the GSL comes under scrutiny at the Human Rights Council for
its own human rights abuses. Based on recent experience on
similar votes, it is also unlikely that the GSL would make a
firm commitment to support a particular candidate.
BLAKE