HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UNDECIDED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 001130 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC DR SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UNDECIDED ON BELARUS REF: STATE 63345 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Rolland W. Bullen, Reasons 1.4(b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) Charge delivered reftel demarche regarding the Human Rights Council (HRC) to Acting Foreign Minister Alejandra Liriano, emphasizing (i) our view that for UN Member States should vote for countries with a strong human rights record, such as Slovenia, and not vote for those that do not respect human rights, such as Belarus; and (ii) our understanding that the Eastern Europe group is not presenting an agreed slate and that Bosnia has announced its candidacy. ¶2. (C) Liriano said that the Dominican Government (GODR) was closely following the development of the HRC generally, as well as the May 17 vote specifically. The GODR wants to see the HRC avoid the mistakes made by the Human Rights Commission, which had lost credibility. It would be odd, Liriano continued, if Belarus were to be elected to the HRC after recently being condemned by the General Assembly for its human rights practices. ¶3. (C) Liriano said that the GODR had traded votes with Slovenia to receive support for the Dominican candidacy for the UN Security Council. (Note: Liriano did not specifically state that the vote that Slovenia would receive in return would be for the HRC; however, it is likely that this is the case.) Regarding Belarus and Bosnia, Liriano said that the Dominicans are evaluating the different positions and remain undecided. She pledged to pass the U.S. request to Foreign Minister Morales upon his return. The Embassy will follow up prior to the vote and report further developments. (U) This report and extensive other material can be consulted on our SIPRNET site, http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/ BULLEN