Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME987
2007-05-10 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY PREOCCUPIED WITH OWN UN HRC CANDIDACY, HOPES

Tags:  PHUM PREL UNHRC BO IT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1295
OO RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHRO #0987 1301346
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101346Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7973
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK PRIORITY 0074
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0049
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2368
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8627
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2526
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 6325
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0741
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000987 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI, USUN NEW YORK, AND US
MISSION GENEVA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC BO IT
SUBJECT: ITALY PREOCCUPIED WITH OWN UN HRC CANDIDACY, HOPES
FOR EU POSITION

REF: A. STATE 58036


B. YOUNG/COHEN EMAIL MAY 9

C. STATE 63345

Classified By: Political Military Counselor Jonathan R. Cohen for reaso
ns 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000987

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI, USUN NEW YORK, AND US
MISSION GENEVA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC BO IT
SUBJECT: ITALY PREOCCUPIED WITH OWN UN HRC CANDIDACY, HOPES
FOR EU POSITION

REF: A. STATE 58036


B. YOUNG/COHEN EMAIL MAY 9

C. STATE 63345

Classified By: Political Military Counselor Jonathan R. Cohen for reaso
ns 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff delivered Ref A points to UN Office Director
Leonardo Bencini May 9, urging Italy not to support Belarus'
candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council, but rather to
support Slovenia and a third candidate. Bencini responded
May 10 that Italy was absorbed in its own candidacy for the
Council, where it was in a tight contest with the Netherlands
and Denmark, and had not had time to focus on the Eastern
European Group race. Italy supported Germany's letter asking
EU countries to only support UN HRC candidates with strong
human rights records. Bencini said no EU country would
support Belarus' candidacy, nor would Italy.


2. (C) However, Bencini noted that this was a moot point in
Italy's view: Belarus would never get the required votes to
be elected. Poloff pointed out that we viewed a Belarusian
seat on the HRC as a very real possibility, as did many
countries in the EU, and urged Italy to focus on the Eastern
European race. When Poloff inquired which country other than
Slovenia Italy would support, Bencini responded that the GOI
had not yet thought over the matter. He promised to spend
some time studying the issue in the next few days. Bencini
said Italy would welcome the EU making an exception to its
practice of not coordinating votes in multilateral contests
to come to a common position on not supporting Belarus.


3. (C) Comment. If Italy is indeed contemplating a vote
exchange with Belarus (Ref B),the deal is more likely being
done in New York. The MFA appears to be fully preoccupied
with Italy's own candidacy and has not been keeping up with
the Eastern European Group vote dynamics (Bencini was not
aware of Bosnia's potential candidacy). Given the GOI's lack
of concern about a potential Belarus win, Post concurs with
the suggestion of additional Department-based outreach. We
will continue to monitor Italy's position per Ref C and have
requested additional high level meetings to raise this issue.
End comment.
Spogli