DEMARCHE DELIVERED; HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEMATIC

UNCLAS USEU BRUSSELS 002854 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DRL/MLGA GIANNI PAZ, IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EUN PREL UNGA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED; HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEMATIC RESOLUTIONS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED REF: SECSTATE 122654 (SBU) PolOff delivered ref demarche to Riina Kionka, Solana's special Representative on Human Rights. Regarding the reporting responsibilities of the Human Rights Council, Kionka said that the EU was not ready to have the structure narrowly and rigidly defined. The lack of clarity in its reporting responsibilities will allow the HRC to evolve, to adapt, and eventually to improve. Kionka also expressed her personal opinion that having the HRC report directly to the UNGA gave the HRC and human rights issues a higher profile. PolOff reiterated U.S. opposition to a resolution condemning all uses of capital punishment. Kionka responded that while abolition of the death penalty remains an EU objective, the Council intends to draft an anti-death penalty resolution with the goal of attracting as many cosponsors as possible. Therefore, she noted, the possibility exists that the EU's eventual draft would either be one the U.S. can support or at least one that would not trigger our active opposition. Kionka agreed that the U.S. would see a draft at the earliest possible date. PolOff presented talking points regarding the Rights of the Child and Religious Intolerance resolutions; Kionka had no substantive comment. .