Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KYIV1107
2007-05-10 14:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kyiv
Cable title:  

UKRAINE: BELARUS UN HRC CANDIDACY - AMBASSADOR'S

Tags:  PHUM PREL UNHRC BO UP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1443
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHKV #1107 1301437
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101437Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0074
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2274
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0021
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 001107 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR P - U/S BURNS; DEPT ALSO FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA/ EUR/PGI,
AND EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC BO UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: BELARUS UN HRC CANDIDACY - AMBASSADOR'S
ASSESSMENT

REF: A. STATE 63345

B. STATE 58054

Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4(b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 001107

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR P - U/S BURNS; DEPT ALSO FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA/ EUR/PGI,
AND EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC BO UP
SUBJECT: UKRAINE: BELARUS UN HRC CANDIDACY - AMBASSADOR'S
ASSESSMENT

REF: A. STATE 63345

B. STATE 58054

Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) Our soundings with the Ukrainian MFA, detailed below,
indicate the Ukrainians are on the razor's edge regarding
whether to support Belarus' candidacy for the UN Human Rights
Council (HRC). Their concern is to ensure that this year's
vote not result in keeping Slovenia off the Council (Slovenia
was Ukraine's unsuccessful competitor for the UN HRC seat
that it won). If a third candidate does not emerge soon,
then Ukraine is likely to vote for Belarus and Slovenia,
believing that it has no other choice. To prevent the
Ukrainian position from hardening, Bosnia needs to formalize
its candidacy soonest. Armed with this information, we can
re-engage the Ukrainians and press them to make the right
decision.


2. (C) We delivered our points about preventing Belarus'
election to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) May 10 to
Deputy Foreign Minister Volodymyr Khandohiy. (The Foreign
Minister is returning to Kyiv from an official visit to
Canada.) He said Ukraine's position was still undecided, but
that Ukraine would vote "in accordance with its human rights
record" and understood its special responsibility as a Human
Rights Council member. Khandohiy was unaware of Bosnia's
candidacy and asked for more information. He noted that with
the support of the Non-Aligned Movement, the election of
Belarus might be hard to derail. Khandohiy was concerned
that in light of NAM support for Belarus, the candidacy of
Bosnia could simply draw votes from Slovenia and result in
the election of Belarus and Bosnia.


3. (C) On May 8, we delivered ref B points to MFA UN
Directorate head Andriy Beshta, whose position was similar to
Khandohiy's. Noting that Ukraine takes its membership in the
UN HRC seriously, Beshta said Ukraine shared our concerns
over Belarus' human rights record. For this reason, Ukraine
had supported the UNGA resolution condemning Belarus' human
rights record. Ukraine had not yet decided how to vote; his
department was consulting with other MFA departments,
including the relevant regional bureau, to develop the
Ukrainian position. Beshta said Ukraine expects Belarus to
be elected because of NAM support and that Slovenia was
concerned about another candidate entering the race. Ukraine
was reluctant to encourage a third Eastern European candidate
because Ukraine had beaten Slovenia in the last UN HRC
election and did not want to be seen as undermining
Slovenia's candidacy this time.


4. (C) According to our British colleagues in Kyiv, the UK
also made the point to the MFA about the importance of
preventing the election of Belarus to the HRC and got the
same response as we did. Our UK colleagues suggested that we
asses the situation on May 14 and possibly make a joint
approach to the Ukrainians.


5. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Taylor