Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GENEVA915
2008-11-03 16:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:  

UK MAY CONSIDER WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN REVIEW

Tags:  PHUM PREL UNHRC UK 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGV #0915/01 3081630
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031630Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7366
INFO RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2849
C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000915 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC UK
SUBJECT: UK MAY CONSIDER WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN REVIEW
CONFERENCE

Classified By: Charge Mark C. Storella. Reasons: 1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000915

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC UK
SUBJECT: UK MAY CONSIDER WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN REVIEW
CONFERENCE

Classified By: Charge Mark C. Storella. Reasons: 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The UK ambassador in Geneva privately told
the Charge on October 31 that HMG might withdraw from the
Durban process early in 2009 if that process did not improve
and UK redlines were crossed. In that and a previous
meeting, the UK delegation said that maintaining EU consensus
on Durban was growing increasingly difficult. Our
interlocutors hoped for close coordination with the U.S.
regarding decisions on participation in Durban. END SUMMARY.

DURBAN STATE-OF-PLAY
--------------


2. (SBU) The most recent Durban Preparatory Committee
(PrepCom) produced a massive and unwieldy compilation of over
600 paragraphs, drawn from regional preparatory documents and
other sources, to be used in preparing a final draft outcome
document for the April 2009 Review Conference. Boiling this
down to an outcome document will now fall to an
inter-sessional, intergovernmental working group that is to
convene for two weeks in January/February. A proposal was
considered for the Swiss PolCouns in Geneva to chair the
working group; the Swiss government has yet to decide whether
to approve this proposal, and we understand the Russian
PolCouns is now also being floated as a candidate to take on
that role should the Swiss decline.

THOUGHTS OF WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN
--------------


3. (C) In an October 31 meeting with the Charge, UK
Ambassador Peter Gooderham underscored his government's
growing frustration with the Durban process. Gooderham said
that although no firm policy had been decided, frustration
could well lead HMG to withdraw from Durban, possibly early
in 2009, if the process got worse and/or it led to
overstepping of UK redlines. In an October 30 meeting with
us, a UK poloff described those redlines as involving mention
of reparations for the slave trade, any hint of restricting
freedom of expression, overly unfair characterizations of
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, or mention
of counterterrorism measures.


4. (C) Asked by the Charge whether other EU members might
also withdraw, Gooderham noted that only a few might do so.
Underscoring that he was merely speculating, Gooderham

singled out Estonia, given its concerns about language that
Russia might introduce concerning treatment of ethnic
minorities, and suggested that the Netherlands might be among
the handful of others to do so as well.

THE CHALLENGES OF INFLUENCING THE EU
--------------


5. (C) The UK poloff noted that the UK, working closely with
the Netherlands, Denmark, Romania and the Czech Republic,
were pressing hard to maintain a firm EU stance on Durban.
The EU was planning an internal stock-taking session for
sometime early in 2009, and the UK might push for that to
happen sooner rather than later in order to focus on clear EU
redlines for the current text.


6. (C) Retaining an EU consensus on a firm stand would become
more difficult in the period ahead, we were told, as the
Durban preparations focused more heavily on slavery issues.
Views on those issues ranged widely within the EU, and while
several states supported the UK position against any mention
of reparations for slavery, none supported HMG's view that
mentioning apologies for a history of slavery was also
inappropriate in the Durban context of its outcome document.


7. (C) The UK poloff added that Egypt had approached the EU
with talk of a final-stage deal in which OIC/Africa Group
proposals on defamation would be dropped in exchange for
dropping EU language on sexual orientation. That might
appeal to the majority of EU members, our interlocutor noted,
putting the UK in an even tougher spot if its other redlines
had been breached.


8. (C) In addition to language on slavery and defamation, the
UK was frustrated with the broad support evidenced at the
PrepCom for other positions that would cross UK redlines.
Language on counter-terrorism measures, for instance, had
wide-ranging support from not only the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) but also the African Group, the
Group of Latin and Central American States (GRULAC),and the
Asian Group. Procedural issues also raised hackles in
London. These included the consistent bracketing of EU
contributions (many of which were UK proposals) in the draft
outcome document, as well as the proliferation of Durban

preparatory meetings that would sap UN resources.

WEIGHING IN WITH PILLAY
--------------


9. (C) As we have noted previously, High Commissioner for
Human Rights Navanathem Pillay is deeply invested in the
success of the Durban process. Expressing frustration with
Pillay's role, Gooderham reported that she would be visiting
London in the next few weeks, at which time she would be told
firmly about HMG's concerns and strongly encouraged to change
her approach.

UK APPEALS FOR COORDINATION WITH U.S.
--------------


10. (C) As HMG considered possible withdrawal from Durban,
Gooderham emphasized that close coordination with the USG was
essential. U.S. thinking would weigh significantly on that
of the HMG, as well as of several other governments that
might consider withdrawal. Most important, however, was to
avoid a situation in which the UK opted to withdraw only to
have the U.S. announce shortly thereafter its decision to
participate.

COMMENT
--------------


11. (C) For the moment EU determination to stand against the
worst language proposed for the Durban Review Conference
draft document holds. That determination is under threat,
however, from diverging member state views. The UK
ambassador's approach to us offers an excellent opportunity
to influence HMG thinking and to maintain good coordination
on the issue.
STORELLA