SLOVENIA FOLLOWS EU STANCE ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000669 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA FOLLOWS EU STANCE ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS REF: SECSTATE 145641 ¶1. (SBU) On October 22, Emboff met with Nina Lenardic Purkart from the Human Rights Division at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to solicit the Government of Slovenia's support for U.S. resolutions as outlined in reftel. Purkart stated that Slovenia is in line with the EU on the U.S. priority resolutions in the UN General Assembly's Third Committee. Purkart explained that the GOS agrees with the USG that a "no-action" motion on the resolutions is not an option. According to Purkart, the GOS is close to many of the U.S. positions on the country-specific and thematic resolutions, except on the issue of the death penalty. The GOS supports the EU's planned resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty. ¶2. (SBU) Purkart explained that the GOS is still defining its position on some of the issues. Regarding rape as an instrument of state policy, the GOS is supportive of the resolution but with some EU-proposed amendments, which are under development. Also, the EU plans to take the lead on the resolution on religious intolerance, but in light of HRC objection to having it discussed in the Third Committee, the EU would like to take the temperature of the Third Committee members before making a final decision. COLEMAN