Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LJUBLJANA124
2007-03-05 06:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:
SLOVENIA CONCERNED BY THIRD UNHRC EEG CANDIDATE
how-toVZCZCXRO4931 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLJ #0124 0640638 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 050638Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5600 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK 0045 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0024 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0222 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0084
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000124
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PGI, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA CONCERNED BY THIRD UNHRC EEG CANDIDATE
REF: SECSTATE 21984
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000124
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PGI, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA CONCERNED BY THIRD UNHRC EEG CANDIDATE
REF: SECSTATE 21984
1. (C) Summary. The Government of Slovenia (GOS) has
serious concerns about the effect a third candidate from the
East European Group (EEG) competing for a seat on the UN
Human Rights Council will have on its chances to win a seat
on that council. The GOS is not willing to risk losing its
bid for the UNHRC a second year in a row, and it is concerned
that the anti-western, anti-EU atmosphere in the General
Assembly would more likely ensure that any third candidate
from the EEG, especially a non-EU member, would pull votes
from Slovenia rather than Belarus as suggested in reftel.
This prediction is based on Slovenia's experience last year
when it lost out to Romania, which was not an EU member at
the time. With 2008 parliamentary elections and Slovenia's
EU presidency in mind, the GOS would rather withdraw from the
race than be seen to lose a second year in a row, and this
time to Belarus and Bosnia. Thus, the EU and western
democratic orientation of the UNHRC would be further
diminished. End Summary.
2. (C) Smiljana Knez of the MFA's Division for
International Organizations and Human Security told Pol/Econ
Chief on March 2 that while it would normally fully support
the efforts of Bosnia to run for a seat on the UNHRC, this
year, the stakes are high and any third candidate would draw
its votes from Slovenia, not Belarus. Knez said that unlike
other regional groups, the east European group does not
collaborate or coordinate on candidates for seats in UN
institutions. And, while Slovenia normally is in favor of a
full field of candidates for these sorts of positions, in
this instance, the GOS is convinced that expanding the slate
by even one country will guarantee that Slovenia will not win
a seat on the UNHRC.
3. (C) According to the Slovene mission in Geneva, Belarus
can already count on the support of at least 129 countries.
The addition of Bosnia to the field would be an attractive
option for the members of the nonaligned movement (NAM) who
reflexively would want to avoid casting a vote which would
favor a western democracy and EU member.
4. (C) Knez added that Slovenia is very serious about
wanting to be on the UNHRC, and it is actively pursuing this
goal. The GOS has appointed a special envoy who is traveling
the globe to drum up support, and FM Rupel is sending
personal appeals to 196 of his colleagues around the world.
Nevertheless, domestic politics is part of Slovenia's
equation. If a third candidate appears to take votes from
Slovenia, the GOS will seriously consider pulling back its
candidacy, thus leaving the field to Belarus and the third
candidate and diminishing the presence of western democracies
and the EU.
ROBERTSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PGI, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA CONCERNED BY THIRD UNHRC EEG CANDIDATE
REF: SECSTATE 21984
1. (C) Summary. The Government of Slovenia (GOS) has
serious concerns about the effect a third candidate from the
East European Group (EEG) competing for a seat on the UN
Human Rights Council will have on its chances to win a seat
on that council. The GOS is not willing to risk losing its
bid for the UNHRC a second year in a row, and it is concerned
that the anti-western, anti-EU atmosphere in the General
Assembly would more likely ensure that any third candidate
from the EEG, especially a non-EU member, would pull votes
from Slovenia rather than Belarus as suggested in reftel.
This prediction is based on Slovenia's experience last year
when it lost out to Romania, which was not an EU member at
the time. With 2008 parliamentary elections and Slovenia's
EU presidency in mind, the GOS would rather withdraw from the
race than be seen to lose a second year in a row, and this
time to Belarus and Bosnia. Thus, the EU and western
democratic orientation of the UNHRC would be further
diminished. End Summary.
2. (C) Smiljana Knez of the MFA's Division for
International Organizations and Human Security told Pol/Econ
Chief on March 2 that while it would normally fully support
the efforts of Bosnia to run for a seat on the UNHRC, this
year, the stakes are high and any third candidate would draw
its votes from Slovenia, not Belarus. Knez said that unlike
other regional groups, the east European group does not
collaborate or coordinate on candidates for seats in UN
institutions. And, while Slovenia normally is in favor of a
full field of candidates for these sorts of positions, in
this instance, the GOS is convinced that expanding the slate
by even one country will guarantee that Slovenia will not win
a seat on the UNHRC.
3. (C) According to the Slovene mission in Geneva, Belarus
can already count on the support of at least 129 countries.
The addition of Bosnia to the field would be an attractive
option for the members of the nonaligned movement (NAM) who
reflexively would want to avoid casting a vote which would
favor a western democracy and EU member.
4. (C) Knez added that Slovenia is very serious about
wanting to be on the UNHRC, and it is actively pursuing this
goal. The GOS has appointed a special envoy who is traveling
the globe to drum up support, and FM Rupel is sending
personal appeals to 196 of his colleagues around the world.
Nevertheless, domestic politics is part of Slovenia's
equation. If a third candidate appears to take votes from
Slovenia, the GOS will seriously consider pulling back its
candidacy, thus leaving the field to Belarus and the third
candidate and diminishing the presence of western democracies
and the EU.
ROBERTSON