UNHRC VOTE: PAKISTAN INCLINED TO SUPPORT SLOVENIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002129 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/RHS DRL/MLGA EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC PK SUBJECT: UNHRC VOTE: PAKISTAN INCLINED TO SUPPORT SLOVENIA AND BOSNIA, NEEDS REASSURANCE REF: A. STATE 64169 ¶B. STATE 63345 ¶C. STATE 58054 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter W. Bodde, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) PolOff discussed the upcoming UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) election with MFA Director (UN) Haider Shah on May 11 and emphasized demarche points per refs B and C, urging Pakistan to support Slovenia and Bosnia. Shah reacted positively to Bosnia's official candidacy (ref A),saying Pakistan would be "predisposed" to vote for Bosnia, especially as it is a fellow OIC member. Shah agreed that Belarus did not merit a seat on the UNHRC. However, Shah expressed concern that Bosnia's official candidacy has come only days before the vote, which might make it difficult to dismantle previously determined voting arrangements. Shah said he will press this issue with his colleagues in New York and confer with us. ¶2. (C) Comment: We believe Pakistan is inclined to vote for Bosnia and Slovenia now that there are two official alternatives to Belarus. But Pakistan remains concerned about upsetting the status quo if the Belarus candidacy was already had support. Pakistan is usually reluctant to stick its neck out on UN human rights issues. Over the coming days, we will need to reassure the Pakistanis that the momentum has turned against Belarus and for Bosnia and Slovenia. End comment. BODDE