ANGOLA THANKS US FOR SUPPORT TO THE UN HUMAN

UNCLAS LUANDA 000746 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S AND IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UN AO SUBJECT: ANGOLA THANKS US FOR SUPPORT TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: LUANDA 445 ¶1. (SBU) Angola,s election to the UN Human Rights Council has proven to be a source of pride to the GRA as well as playing extensively in the Angolan press. More importantly it may provide some catalyst for Angola,s ratification of some core human rights conventions and has spurred the GRA to invite visits of Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. The GRA has transmitted a diplomatic note thanking the USG for its support on Angola,s election. ¶2. (SBU) In addition to GRA mention of Angola,s election to the UN Human Rights Council in private diplomatic meetings, it has also received significant press coverage in the Angolan press and on the national television station. The Jornal de Angola ran an extensive interview with Ambassador Virgilio de Faria, head of MIREX,s International Organizations Division, in which he said that Angola will ratify four core Human Rights Conventions which Angola has not yet ratified: UN Convention Against Torture, 1975; UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965; International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, 1990; International Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities. When asked by P/E chief about the schedule for ratifying these conventions, de Faria said that they have all been before the government for quite some time but had yet to be placed on the agenda for review and voting. He elaborated that he had hoped that the press coverage would spur the government to act. ¶3. (SBU) The Luanda UN Human Rights Office announced this week that the GRA has invited the following Special Procedures teams to visit Angola in 2007: The Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions from September 17-27; the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and opinion from October 15-21, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion from November 20-27, 2007. Officially Thanked -------------- ¶4. (U) On July 12, 2007 Embassy Luanda received Diplomatic Note number 128DORINT/MIREX/2007, dated July 5, 2007, from the Angolan Ministry of External Relations (MIREX) to thank the US Government for its support during the election of a member for the Human Rights Council. A copy of the note has been transmitted to AF/S. An informal translation follows: The Board of Directors for International Organizations of the Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of Angola presents its compliments to Embassy Luanda and would like to enthusiastically thank the Government of the United States of America for its valued contribution to Angola,s election as a member of the Human Rights Council. Complimentary Closing. FERNANDEZ