PHILIPPINES ON HRC FIFTH SESSION ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 002011 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2012 TAGS: PHUM PREL RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES ON HRC FIFTH SESSION ISSUES REF: A. STATE 80095 ¶B. INGENERI/BELLARD EMAIL Classified By: Pol/C Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF on June 15 discussed U.S. views on Human Rights Council issues (ref a) with Gunther Sales, Assistant Director in the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of United Nations and International Organizations. He highlighted U.S. priorities regarding preserving country-specific rapporteur mandates and avoiding anti-Israel permanent agenda items in the Human Rights Council's Fifth Session. ¶2. (C) Sales said that the Philippines had already reached its official position on the rapporteur mandates, but declined to specify what it was. (The Philippines has in the more recent past been more willing to consider these on a case-by-case basis.) He indicated that the Philippine delegation in Geneva would likely finalize the Philippine position on the Israel-specific permanent agenda item, and he promised to convey our views to it. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY