SLOVENE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000587 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO DRL/MLGA GIANNI PAZ AND IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EUN UNGA SI SUBJECT: SLOVENE RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS THEMATIC RESOLUTIONS REF: SECSTATE 122654 ¶1. (U) EmbOff delivered reftel points to MFA Office of International Organizations and Human Rights representative Nina Lenardic Purkart on September 6. She stated that Slovenia appreciates the U.S. position on these issues and offered the following: ¶2. (U) Despite U.S. concerns, Slovenia supports transmitting the Human Rights Council (HRC) report directly to the UN General Assembly Plenary. Slovenia does not agree that 60 years of transmitting ECOSOC reports via the Third Committee has established a precedent relevant to the HRC report as this is a new institution and no rules or practices have been set. Slovenia is concerned that transmitting the HRC report via the Third Committee would give the Third Committee undue control over the HRC. Slovenia believes that concerns over the ability of non-HRC members to review, improve, or correct HRC actions can be allayed by non-members' ability to observe HRC proceedings and provide comments. ¶3. (U) Slovenia appreciates U.S. overtures for a collegial dialogue regarding an EU proposal for a global moratorium on the death penalty, but supports the EU position calling for a complete moratorium and eventual total abolition. Slovenia will convey U.S. suggestions for a resolution that insists on due process and safeguards in the application of the death penalty without calling for a complete moratorium. Slovenia, however, will continue to follow the EU lead on this issue. Lenardic Purkart noted that she expected the EU to continue to push for the moratorium and eventual abolition and that the text would be passed to non-EU cosponsors before the end of the year. She suggested that the U.S. engage the EU on this issue via EU presidency-host Portugal. ¶4. (U) Regarding the Rights of the Child resolution, Lenardic Purkart confirmed that the EU will propose the creation of a new Special Representative on Violence Against Children. She suggested that the appropriate point of contact for requesting that the EU share the text of the proposal would again be EU presidency-host Portugal. According to Lenardic Purkart, the usual "omnibus" Rights of the Child resolution text will be tabled at the Third Committee. ¶5. (U) The EU concurs with U.S. position that the religious intolerance resolution should only be introduced in Geneva. COLEMAN