LATVIA STILL UNDECIDED ON HRC, LUKEWARM AT BEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000084 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2012 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC LG SUBJECT: LATVIA STILL UNDECIDED ON HRC, LUKEWARM AT BEST REF: A) STATE 6780 B) WASER/OSTERMEIER E-MAIL 1/23 C) 06 RIGA 523 Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason: 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Pol/econ chief has held several conversations with Latvian MFA pol dir Ilgvars Klava regarding ref A request to explore Latvian willingness to pursue a seat on the Human Rights Council. Klava, who has been very critical of the council (ref C),has agreed that we should avoid having Belarus on the Council, but has expressed little enthusiasm for Latvia being a candidate. He said he would discuss the issue further with political directors from Estonia and Lithuania when they meet the week of February 5. ¶2. (C/NF) Comment: We sense no enthusiasm from the Latvians in pursuing a seat on the council. Informal discussions with other senior foreign policy officials result in similarly tepid responses as Klava's. This is partly due to the fact the the entire GOL foreign affairs establishment is presently focused on the upcoming parliamentary vote on the border treaty with Russia, but also reflects a disappointment with the new structure (and a belief that it is unlikely to improve) and a concern that the Latvian MFA lacks the staff and resources to serve effectively on the council. We recommend against any further pushes on the Latvians for the moment and we will report any additional information we receive from them on their thinking as it develops. BAILEY