Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENNA688
2007-03-20 11:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIA SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ACTION ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0054 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHVI #0688 0791100 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201100Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6664 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1359 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0183
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000688
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/MLGA - NOYES, IO/RHS - ROHN, EUR/AGS -
SAINT-ANDRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM UNSCR PREL ZI EUN AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ACTION ON
ZIMBABWE
REF: STATE 33357
Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips. Reaso
n: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000688
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/MLGA - NOYES, IO/RHS - ROHN, EUR/AGS -
SAINT-ANDRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM UNSCR PREL ZI EUN AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ACTION ON
ZIMBABWE
REF: STATE 33357
Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips. Reaso
n: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) EconPolCouns delivered refetl demarche on March 19
to Austrian MFA Human Rights Director Engelbert Theuermann.
Theuermann said Austria is only an observer at the UN Human
Rights Council, but plays an active role. He said Austria
has an embassy in Zimbabwe, and therefore has followed
developments there closely.
2. (C) Theuermann said he agrees completely that the Human
Rights Council needs to take action on Zimbabwe. He said the
Austrian view was that Human Rights Council action would have
to consist of an escalation of measures. An early
presentation of a resolution text (which, Theuermann said,
the UK had pressed the EU to support last Friday, March 16)
could have a counter-productive effect if Zimbabwe is able to
portray Western action as "neo-colonialism." The African
Union statement on the situation in Zimbabwe is therefore
very important, and it would be even better to have more
African voices speak on the issue in Geneva.
3. (C) Theuermann said we need to take account of the
relationship between our goals regarding Darfur and Zimbabwe
in Geneva, even though this does not mean that we should be
"shy" on Zimbabwe. The vote on Darfur is supposed to come on
March 23, although Theuermann said he would not be surprised
if it slipped into the following week. It is likely that we
will have to address Darfur and Zimbabwe at the same time.
4. (C) The first step would be to raise Zimbabwe in Geneva
whenever possible over the next few days. Theuermann said a
means to do this would be to call for reports by special
rapporteurs, and then ask about the situation in Zimbabwe in
the course of their presentations. When the momentum builds
up, we can call for a "proper discussion" of Zimbabwe. This
will, in turn, give rise to the need for some sort of
outcome. If there is no consensus for a president's
statement, we can take action in another way -- possibly
through a special session. This does not mean that a
resolution is impossible -- only that there needs to be a
build-up to a resolution.
5. (C) Theuermann said it would be critical for the U.S. --
"the real power" -- to engage in the lobbying effort
bilaterally, especially with African countries. South Africa
is a real problem, he said, adding that the weight of the
U.S. is an important factor in overcoming South African
obstructionism.
McCaw
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL/MLGA - NOYES, IO/RHS - ROHN, EUR/AGS -
SAINT-ANDRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM UNSCR PREL ZI EUN AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ACTION ON
ZIMBABWE
REF: STATE 33357
Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips. Reaso
n: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) EconPolCouns delivered refetl demarche on March 19
to Austrian MFA Human Rights Director Engelbert Theuermann.
Theuermann said Austria is only an observer at the UN Human
Rights Council, but plays an active role. He said Austria
has an embassy in Zimbabwe, and therefore has followed
developments there closely.
2. (C) Theuermann said he agrees completely that the Human
Rights Council needs to take action on Zimbabwe. He said the
Austrian view was that Human Rights Council action would have
to consist of an escalation of measures. An early
presentation of a resolution text (which, Theuermann said,
the UK had pressed the EU to support last Friday, March 16)
could have a counter-productive effect if Zimbabwe is able to
portray Western action as "neo-colonialism." The African
Union statement on the situation in Zimbabwe is therefore
very important, and it would be even better to have more
African voices speak on the issue in Geneva.
3. (C) Theuermann said we need to take account of the
relationship between our goals regarding Darfur and Zimbabwe
in Geneva, even though this does not mean that we should be
"shy" on Zimbabwe. The vote on Darfur is supposed to come on
March 23, although Theuermann said he would not be surprised
if it slipped into the following week. It is likely that we
will have to address Darfur and Zimbabwe at the same time.
4. (C) The first step would be to raise Zimbabwe in Geneva
whenever possible over the next few days. Theuermann said a
means to do this would be to call for reports by special
rapporteurs, and then ask about the situation in Zimbabwe in
the course of their presentations. When the momentum builds
up, we can call for a "proper discussion" of Zimbabwe. This
will, in turn, give rise to the need for some sort of
outcome. If there is no consensus for a president's
statement, we can take action in another way -- possibly
through a special session. This does not mean that a
resolution is impossible -- only that there needs to be a
build-up to a resolution.
5. (C) Theuermann said it would be critical for the U.S. --
"the real power" -- to engage in the lobbying effort
bilaterally, especially with African countries. South Africa
is a real problem, he said, adding that the weight of the
U.S. is an important factor in overcoming South African
obstructionism.
McCaw