ESTONIA STANDS WITH EU ON HUMAN RIGHTS THEMATIC

UNCLAS TALLINN 000618 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NB -- KATHERINE GARRY, DRL/MLGA -- GIANNI PAZ AND IO/RHS -- AMY OSTERMEIER SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EUN PREL UNGA EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA STANDS WITH EU ON HUMAN RIGHTS THEMATIC RESOLUTIONS REF: STATE 122654 (U) On August 31, we delivered reftel points to Tiina Krevald, Acting MFA Director for International Organizations, and Veiko Kalla, MFA UN Desk Officer, on U.S. concerns over thematic resolutions in the Human Rights Council's (HRC) report. On September 11, Krevald responded with three key points in defense of the EU's position on this issue. First, Estonia disagrees with the USG's position and continues to support the EU position of sending the HRC report directly to the UN General Assembly Plenary. Krevald argued that the "consideration of the report in the plenary corresponds better to the principle of the HRC's autonomy." Second, Krevald said, Estonia supports the EU's efforts to secure the broadest possible support for a universal moratorium on capital punishment, to be included in the resolution. Finally, Estonia will continue to support the creation of a Special Representative on violence against children. PHILLIPS