SLOVENIA CONSIDERING CO-SPONSORING PRISONERS OF

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000307 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER AND DRL/MLGA DANIKA WALTERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN KDEM SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA CONSIDERING CO-SPONSORING PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS EVENT, BUT REQUESTS MORE DETAILS REF: SECSTATE 70829 ¶1. (U) This is an action request cable. Please see para. 3. ¶2. (SBU) On July 9, Emboffs met with MFA Minister Plenipotentiary and previous Chair of the EU Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) Smiljana Knez to seek co-sponsorship of a Prisoners of Conscience public affairs event. Knez informed Emboffs that Slovenia is interested and will discuss possible co-sponsorship, however she requested more information about the event. She reiterated the EU position that the event should focus on the broad theme of rasing awareness of prisoners of conscience around the world. The GOS would like to know how the U.S. envisions the event taking place. In addition, she sought more details, such as the names of participants, including the names of the former political prisoners of conscience who will form the panel. She suggested that family members of Cuban prisoners of conscience be different from those who participated previously in U.S.-sponsored events. She also asked who will co-chair and whether NGOs will have an active role, such as co-chairs. ¶3. (U) Embassy requests more information to pass on to MFA. GHAFARI