Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIYADH1018
2007-05-15 14:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
NO DECISION YET: HRC ELECTIONS REFTEL DEMARCHES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRH #1018 1351430 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151430Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5389 INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 8689
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001018
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI, USUN NEW YORK,
AND US MISSION GENEVA. NEA/ARP FOR ROBERT JACHIM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC SA
SUBJECT: NO DECISION YET: HRC ELECTIONS REFTEL DEMARCHES
DELIVERED TO THE SAG
REF: A. A) STATE 063345
B. B) STATE 64709
C. C) STATE 058036
Classified By: Political Counselor David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001018
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI, USUN NEW YORK,
AND US MISSION GENEVA. NEA/ARP FOR ROBERT JACHIM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC SA
SUBJECT: NO DECISION YET: HRC ELECTIONS REFTEL DEMARCHES
DELIVERED TO THE SAG
REF: A. A) STATE 063345
B. B) STATE 64709
C. C) STATE 058036
Classified By: Political Counselor David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Reftel demarches were delivered by Ambassador Fraker
to Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on May 12 and on
the working level by PolOff to First Secretary Abdulrahman
al-Rassi on May 13. Additionally, a non-paper was delivered
via dip note on May 7. Prince Saud told the Ambassador that
he was unfamiliar with the upcoming Human Rights Council
elections and was unsure about Saudi Arabia's relationship
with Belarus. He added that he would consider voting for
Slovenia and Bosnia, but first he had to look into the
bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and Belarus.
Al-Rassi also told PolOff that a final decision had not yet
been made, but that the International Organizations
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)-- which
is responsible for advising the Minister on these issues--
recommended that Saudi Arabia votes for Bosnia and Slovenia.
2. (C) Per reftel demarches Post coordinated with the
British and French missions in Riyadh. The French Embassy
confirmed that they are in support of voting against Belarus
and utilizing the European Union and the group of francophone
countries to push for this cause. They are not planning to
demarche the Saudis in Riyadh. The British Embassy also
confirmed that they are in support of voting against Belarus.
However, they are negotiating with Saudi Arabia directly in
London because the Saudis have asked for the British to vote
for Saudi Arabia in the HRC elections. According to this
contact, the British agreed to vote for Saudi Arabia in
exchange for Saudi Arabia not voting for Belarus.
Additionally, the Saudi MFA informed PolOff that the Canadian
Embassy demarched them on May 14 with a similar message to
ours-- namely to vote for Slovenia and Bosnia.
FRAKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI, USUN NEW YORK,
AND US MISSION GENEVA. NEA/ARP FOR ROBERT JACHIM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC SA
SUBJECT: NO DECISION YET: HRC ELECTIONS REFTEL DEMARCHES
DELIVERED TO THE SAG
REF: A. A) STATE 063345
B. B) STATE 64709
C. C) STATE 058036
Classified By: Political Counselor David Rundell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Reftel demarches were delivered by Ambassador Fraker
to Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on May 12 and on
the working level by PolOff to First Secretary Abdulrahman
al-Rassi on May 13. Additionally, a non-paper was delivered
via dip note on May 7. Prince Saud told the Ambassador that
he was unfamiliar with the upcoming Human Rights Council
elections and was unsure about Saudi Arabia's relationship
with Belarus. He added that he would consider voting for
Slovenia and Bosnia, but first he had to look into the
bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and Belarus.
Al-Rassi also told PolOff that a final decision had not yet
been made, but that the International Organizations
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)-- which
is responsible for advising the Minister on these issues--
recommended that Saudi Arabia votes for Bosnia and Slovenia.
2. (C) Per reftel demarches Post coordinated with the
British and French missions in Riyadh. The French Embassy
confirmed that they are in support of voting against Belarus
and utilizing the European Union and the group of francophone
countries to push for this cause. They are not planning to
demarche the Saudis in Riyadh. The British Embassy also
confirmed that they are in support of voting against Belarus.
However, they are negotiating with Saudi Arabia directly in
London because the Saudis have asked for the British to vote
for Saudi Arabia in the HRC elections. According to this
contact, the British agreed to vote for Saudi Arabia in
exchange for Saudi Arabia not voting for Belarus.
Additionally, the Saudi MFA informed PolOff that the Canadian
Embassy demarched them on May 14 with a similar message to
ours-- namely to vote for Slovenia and Bosnia.
FRAKER