UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE: SWISS RESPONSE TO USG'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000467

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/RHS (R.JOVIN),DRL/MLGA (L.SICADE),AND EUR/CE
(J.HIRONIMUS/K.GARRY)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN SZ
SUBJECT: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE: SWISS RESPONSE TO USG'S
2008 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES

REF: A. STATE 95334

B. BERN 323

Classified By: POL/E Counselor Richard Rorvig; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary: Switzerland agrees with the USG's view on
no-action motions, and is likely to support country-specific
resolutions on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK. Swiss Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA) contacts expressed some surprise at
the USG's approach on Belarus, and said they would seek input
from the Swiss embassy in Minsk. DFA contacts said that the
GOS likely would take a position on possible resolutions on
Zimbabwe and Sudan based on the outcome of discussions on
those countries in the Human Rights Council (HRC). The GOS
is engaged in preparations for the Durbin II conference in
April 2009, and the Swiss DFA reports that freedom of
expression and defamation of religion are topics that are
heavily debated in the Geneva Working Groups preparing for
the conference. Swiss contacts underlined that their goal
naturally is to defend free speech and freedom of religion in
the course of the Durbin II process. They reiterated that
they believe it would be important for the USG to engage in
the Durbin II process, in order to help to form "a common
voice among the Western Group" of countries. The GOS is open
to the approaches suggested in reftel A for maintaining the
momentum of the Prisoners of Conscience Declaration. DFA
contacts reiterated (reftel B) that they "would like to see
the USG engaged in the HRC," and asked what the USG's plans
are with regard to the 2011 HRC review. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Poloff discussed the message in reftel A on
September 9 with Ralf Heckner, Head of the Human Rights
Section in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Heckner
was joined in the meeting by his deputy, Mirko Giulietti, and
by Olivier Zehnder, from the DFA's UN Affairs Coordination
Section. (Note: Post did not approach the office of the
Swiss president because the Swiss presidency rotates annually
and currently is held by the Home Affairs Minister, who has
no substantive responsibility for international human rights
issues. The Swiss Executive is a seven-member Cabinet; there
is no prime minister. End Note)

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No-action Motions
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3. (SBU) Heckner said that the GOS continues to agree with
the USG's view on no-action motions, and believes that issues
in the Third Committee should be discussed in substance and
not dismissed procedurally.

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Country-specific Resolutions
--------------


4. (C) Heckner provided the following preliminary feedback:

- Iran: The GOS likely would vote for a "factual" resolution
tabled by Canada. GOS probably would follow the policy of
the past two years and vote "yes" on the resolution, but not
co-sponsor it.

- Burma and DPRK: The GOS likely would vote for resolutions,
assuming the EU tables them.

- Belarus: Heckner said he was a bit surprised by the USG's
assessment that a resolution could be counterproductive, and
said he planned to seek the views of the Swiss embassy
regarding the current situation in Belarus and the release of
political prisoners there.

- Zimbabwe and Sudan: The GOS likely would take a position
in light of the outcome of discussions on Zimbabwe and Sudan
in the Human Rights Council (HRC). Heckner said he would get
back to poloff in a couple of weeks.

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Freedom of Expression/Defamation of Religion
--------------


5. (C) While noting that many European countries place some
limits on free speech (e.g., prohibitions on hate speech),
Heckner concurred that freedom of expression and defamation
of religion increasingly are under pressure from countries or
organizations seeking to establish new norms. He said that
these two topics are heavily debated in the Geneva Working
Groups that are preparing for the April 2009 Durbin II

conference. Heckner underlined that the Swiss goal in that
process naturally is to defend free speech and freedom of
religion. He reiterated (reftel B) that he thought it would
be important for the USG to engage in the Dublin II
preparatory process, to help form "a common voice among the
Western Group" of countries.


6. (C) Whether engaged directly in the Durbin II preparations
or not, Heckner stressed that everyone should do whatever
they can to avoid explosive issues. In that context, he
remarked that Holocaust Remembrance Day will occur during the
Dublin II meeting, and that it will be important to avoid
giving any groups a "pretext for activism or racial attacks."
Heckner underlined that the GOS has been encouraged by "the
pro-Israel community" in Switzerland to remain engaged in the
Dublin II process. He said that, thus far, negotiations in
preparation for Durbin II had been about process, not
substance. Heckner made a point of emphasizing that, while
the Durbin II conference will be held in Switzerland in April
2009, it is not being organized or hosted by the Swiss
government.

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Prisoners of Conscience
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7. (U) Heckner said that he thought the GOS could support
either of the approaches suggested in reftel A for
maintaining the momentum behind the Prisoners of Conscience
Declaration.

--------------
Human Rights Council
--------------


8. (SBU) Heckner reiterated his concern (reftel B) that the
USG is "putting its resources into the Third Committee while
the government of Switzerland is putting major resources into
the Human Rights Council (HRC)." He again said that the GOS
"would like to see the USG -- a very important voice --
engaged at the HRC." In light of the USG's decision to
disengage from the HRC, Heckner asked what the USG's plans
are with regard to the 2011 HRC review. He said that initial
preparations for that review will be on the Swiss agenda for

2009. Heckner also said that he thinks the report of the HRC
should be discussed in the Third Committee.
CARTER