USING SLOVAKIA'S ELECTION TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000239

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PREL UN PHUM LO
SUBJECT: USING SLOVAKIA'S ELECTION TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence R. Silverman, for Reaso
ns 1.4 b and d


1. (C) Slovakia's election on May 21 to the UN Human Rights
Council (HRC) is seen here as a significant step in the
country's effort to carve out a bigger space for itself in
the international arena. Following its successful tenure on
the UN Security Council (2006-7),the HRC bid was the logical
next move. Ironically, however, Slovakia's campaign for the
HRC coincided with some discordant trends in both foreign and
domestic policy. At home, the government fought hard (and
successfully) to pass legislation imposing a tough right of
reply requirement on the press and is also trying to limit
funding to NGO's, and thus, potentially, their activities.
Slovak foreign policy activism under the auspices of Prime
Minister Robert Fico has, in a certain sense, "shrunk."
Fico's interests are predominantly domestic and economic; his
foreign policy priorities -- Euro accession, foreign trade,
and promoting better ties with Russia -- reflect those
interests. Slovak foreign assistance decreased this year and
so has the government's willingness to speak out on human
rights issues. Despite these trends, we continue to believe
that, given Slovakia's history, it can play a constructive
role in helping other societies make the transition to
democracy. When pressed by us, for example, the MFA issued a
good statement on Cuba Solidarity Day. Therefore, Post plans
to use Slovakia's seat on the UN HRC -- and the commitments
it has undertaken in this context -- as tools to engage the
GOS more broadly on a range of human rights issues
(including, when appropriate, in the domestic context) and to
promote greater foreign policy activism.


2. (U) Text of MFA Statement on Slovakia's election to the UN
Human Rights Council:

The Slovak Republic achieved a remarkable diplomatic success
by gaining a seat in the UN Human Rights Council, based in
Geneva. The UN member countries voted in favor of the Slovak
candidacy in the elections held during the 62nd UN General
Assembly session on May 21, 2008 in New York. Slovakia
competed together with Ukraine and Serbia for only two vacant
posts within the central and Eastern European countries
regional group. Slovakia won the support of 135 UN member
countries.

The Slovak Republic becomes for the very first time a member
of this important body responsible for monitoring the
protection of human rights worldwide. In the past, Slovakia
did not sit on the former UN Commission on Human Rights,
replaced by the current council in 2006.

The UN Human Rights Council has 47 member countries elected
proportionally from all regions of the world. The membership
in this body is considered a prestigious matter and is
time-limited. Slovakia's term of office will last three
years. At present, the European Union is represented in the
Council by seven of its member states.

The Slovak Republic is fully committed to the universal
promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. Slovakia is a party to almost all international
legal instruments in the area of human rights protection and
humanitarian law. As a non-permanent member of the UNSC in
2006-7, the Slovak Republic was supporting the idea of
creating the Human Rights Council aimed at strengthening
human rights protection mechanisms within the UN.

During its membership in the Human Rights Council, the Slovak
Republic would like to play a positive and constructive role
in the development and protection of human rights. We are
convinced that the Council should respond promptly to all
cases of gross and systematic violations of human rights
regardless of where they happen. Slovakia will make efforts
to ensure that the resolutions and recommendations adopted by
the Council are viewed upon as encouragement for the
countries concerned to achieve concrete improvements and
progress in human rights protection on the ground. The
Slovak Republic intends to pay attention to the advancement
of human rights in all its categories, including political,
civic, economic, social and cultural rights.
OBSITNIK