SLOVAKIA'S UNHRC CANDIDACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000208 SIPDIS IO/RHS AND DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA'S UNHRC CANDIDACY REF: STATE 46477 Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel points to Denisa Frelichova at MFA's UN and International Organizations Department on May 2. Frelichova was familiar with U.S. concerns related to the UNHRC, which U.S. PermRep Khalizad shared with MFA State Secretary Diana Strofova during meetings in New York the week of April 21. ¶2. (C) Although Frelichova cannot yet count the 120 votes needed to win a seat on the UNHRC, she is certain Slovakia will be successful. Frelichova is confident of EU Member State votes, and said Slovakia and Serbia have agreed on mutual support. The Czech Republic -- which withdrew its own bid for a seat in favor of Slovakia -- will post a diplomat with Slovakia's delegation during its tenure on the UNHRC. Frelichova was proud that Slovakia had refused to make quid-pro-quo arrangements with any unsavory countries, and said Slovakia directly refused arrangements with Cuba, Venezuela and Uzbekistan. Venezuela nonetheless has agreed to support Slovakia's candidacy with no strings, according to Frelichova. ¶3. (C) When pressed about GoS failures to speak out on human rights issues, e.g., on Burma and Uzbekistan, or instances in which commercial interests with China and Libya have been at the fore, Frelichova lamented that Slovakia's foreign policy is largely driven by commercial interests. ¶4. (C) Frelichova expressed confidence that the U.S. would eventually support Slovakia's candidacy. Frelichova frankly acknowledged that Slovakia is not "the ideal candidate" but added that, as an EU Member State, Slovakia will take positions the U.S. would support. OBSITNIK