ECUADOR'S VIEWS ON UPCOMING HRC VOTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001068 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN BO EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR'S VIEWS ON UPCOMING HRC VOTE REF: STATE 64169 Classified By: Acting PolChief James Cohen for reasons 1.4 (B&D) NO SUPPORT FOR BELARUS ¶1. (C) Acting PolChief delivered demarche May 11 to Lourdes Puma Puma, MFA Director General for Multilateral Affairs. Puma said that the GOE understood USG concerns regarding Belarus' inclusion in the Human Rights Council and agreed that it would compromise the council's future credibility. Puma also admitted that Ecuador realizes that its own reputation as a supporter of human rights could be called into question if it actively supported Belarus. Given Ecuador's relationship with Belarus within the nonaligned movement, however, Ecuador will either abstain from a vote on Belarus or vote no, but will not actively block Belarus' election. SERBIA YES, SLOVENIA NO, BOSNIA MAYBE ¶2. (C) Puma noted that the GOE was not inclined to support Slovenia's candidacy and would, in all likelihood, vote against them. Despite Slovenia's excellent human rights record, the GOE feels that there is insufficient balance on the Human Rights Council and that the European Union should not have such a dominating presence on the council, from both the "Eastern and Western European blocks". Puma went on to say that the GOE is officially supporting Serbia's candidacy and that such a pledge has already been made to the Government of Serbia. ¶3. (SBU) The GOE has not yet received any request from BiH for support of their candidacy, but Puma said that they would give it serious consideration. Puma agreed that participation of a European OIC member would add depth to the Council and promised to inform the Embassy of the GOE's decision, once it is taken. JEWELL