Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GENEVA220
2008-03-24 12:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON TIBET STATEMENT IN HUMAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0340 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHGV #0220 0841238 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241238Z MAR 08 FM USMISSION GENEVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6229 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5736 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2672
C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000220
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON TIBET STATEMENT IN HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: STATE 30111
Classified By: Political Counselor Michael Klecheski. Reasons: 1.4(b/d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000220
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON TIBET STATEMENT IN HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: STATE 30111
Classified By: Political Counselor Michael Klecheski. Reasons: 1.4(b/d
).
1. (C) PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Eva Tomic,
Political Counselor at the Slovenian Mission in Geneva, on
the morning of March 24. Tomic said she would pass the
content of our demarche to EU PermReps ahead of their
meeting, to be held on the morning of March 25, at which they
will decide whether to include reference to Tibet in the EU's
Item 8 statement, to be presented later that day.
2. (C) Tomic believed it unlikely that the EU would do a
stand-alone statement on Tibet. As currently envisioned, the
EU's Item 8 statement would contain one paragraph on Tibet,
with other paragraphs on the universality of human rights,
the rights of women and children, protection of human rights
defenders, and non-discrimination based on sexual
orientation. The draft paragraph on Tibet includes elements
linking the situation to the Vienna Declaration and Program
of Action (Item 8),saying the EU is "deeply concerned" with
developments in Tibet, calling for restraint on all sides,
urging the Chinese government to avoid use of force and
demonstrators to desist from violence, and calling for
freedom of religion and belief. Tomic added that the current
draft, which is based largely on the EU's March 17 statement
on the subject, lacks several elements contained in our
demarche, including restrictions on information flow. She
promised to pass these along for consideration.
3. (C) According to Tomic, some EU members are nervous about
mentioning Tibet in the Council. (Note: While she did not
specify, we have heard that Cyprus is among these.) Some, by
contrast, including Germany, are pushing for a strong
statement and might even make national statements as well.
The Swedish delegation here has also told us it hopes for a
strong statement.
4. (C) Switzerland's Political Counselor told us March 24
that her government had prepared an Item 8 statement that
includes a paragraph on Tibet, but had yet to make a decision
on whether to use it. The Australian delegation had earlier
told us they were hoping to raise Tibet in the Council as
well, but were waiting to see how other delegations would
proceed.
STORELLA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON TIBET STATEMENT IN HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: STATE 30111
Classified By: Political Counselor Michael Klecheski. Reasons: 1.4(b/d
).
1. (C) PolCouns delivered reftel demarche to Eva Tomic,
Political Counselor at the Slovenian Mission in Geneva, on
the morning of March 24. Tomic said she would pass the
content of our demarche to EU PermReps ahead of their
meeting, to be held on the morning of March 25, at which they
will decide whether to include reference to Tibet in the EU's
Item 8 statement, to be presented later that day.
2. (C) Tomic believed it unlikely that the EU would do a
stand-alone statement on Tibet. As currently envisioned, the
EU's Item 8 statement would contain one paragraph on Tibet,
with other paragraphs on the universality of human rights,
the rights of women and children, protection of human rights
defenders, and non-discrimination based on sexual
orientation. The draft paragraph on Tibet includes elements
linking the situation to the Vienna Declaration and Program
of Action (Item 8),saying the EU is "deeply concerned" with
developments in Tibet, calling for restraint on all sides,
urging the Chinese government to avoid use of force and
demonstrators to desist from violence, and calling for
freedom of religion and belief. Tomic added that the current
draft, which is based largely on the EU's March 17 statement
on the subject, lacks several elements contained in our
demarche, including restrictions on information flow. She
promised to pass these along for consideration.
3. (C) According to Tomic, some EU members are nervous about
mentioning Tibet in the Council. (Note: While she did not
specify, we have heard that Cyprus is among these.) Some, by
contrast, including Germany, are pushing for a strong
statement and might even make national statements as well.
The Swedish delegation here has also told us it hopes for a
strong statement.
4. (C) Switzerland's Political Counselor told us March 24
that her government had prepared an Item 8 statement that
includes a paragraph on Tibet, but had yet to make a decision
on whether to use it. The Australian delegation had earlier
told us they were hoping to raise Tibet in the Council as
well, but were waiting to see how other delegations would
proceed.
STORELLA