NORWAY'S UNHRC INSIGHTS ON ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000259 SIPDIS SIPDIS DRL/MLGA JULIETTE NOYES AND IO/RHS DOUG RUHN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2017 TAGS: UNHCR PHUM PREL ZI NO SUBJECT: NORWAY'S UNHRC INSIGHTS ON ZIMBABWE REF: STATE 33284 Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On March 16 we delivered reftel points to Anne Merchant, Senior Adviser in the MFA's UN Section. Merchant believes it is very unlikely that United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) members would pass any resolution concerning Zimbabwe's human rights violations. Specifically, she noted that African and Asian members, with a majority of votes, would not support such a measure. While noting that the Norwegian and U.S. missions in Geneva have been in close contact on this issue, she suggests that the USG lobby African members for support, should a resolution be proposed. Norway, as an UNHRC observer, would support a resolution, should it be tabled (which she again strongly doubts). She suggests raising the human right violations through the UNHRC's Special Rapporteurs in order to effectively bring the issue before UNHRC members. ¶2. (C) Merchant described various Norwegian efforts regarding Zimbabwe's human rights abuses, including Foreign Minister Stoere's plan to raise Norwegian concerns in a forthcoming Nordic-African meeting. The Norwegian Ambassador in Zimbabwe has visited the injured, hospitalized opposition leader, while Norway also supports local NGOs contending with human rights issues. She stressed that Norway will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. WHITNEY