FRANCE PROMISES A "MORE VOCAL" EU PRESIDENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 PARIS 001446 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2017 TAGS: PREL FR EUN NGO PHUM UN SUBJECT: FRANCE PROMISES A "MORE VOCAL" EU PRESIDENCY DURING THE 63RD UNGA; URGES USG TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL PARIS 00001446 001.2 OF 006 Classified By: PolMC Kathleen Allegrone for reasons 1.4 (B & D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: State DRL and IO officials met with French MFA International Organizations and Human Rights officials on July 17 to discuss upcoming resolutions, declarations and strategy for the 63rd UN General Assembly in New York. French International Organizations A/S-equivalent Sylvie Bermann promised a "more vocal" French-led EU presidency during this year's UNGA. She urged the USG not to disengage from the Human Rights Council (HRC) as doing so would only play into the hands of the worst offenders of human rights who remained on the Council. The two sides outlined strategies to build successful coalitions to secure adoption of resolutions on Iran, Belarus, DPRK, Burma and Zimbabwe. The French did not support resolutions on Uzbekistan and Sudan in the 63rd UNGA. The GOF said it would support an effort to pull together a cross-regional group to support a freedom of expression resolution. They were skeptical about the ability of the EU to reach consensus on a prisoners of conscience resolution if the text differs much from that of the June EU-co-sponsored UN Declaration. The EU also plans to propose a declaration on sexual orientation, which the U.S. side urged be tabled after all the resolutions are voted. The EU also may table a resolution on the death penalty again this year, pending clarification on timing of an expected UN report. The two delegations also reviewed the status of action on Eritrea and Uzbekistan, as well as thematic issues such as religious intolerance, violence against women, migrants, and the rights of the child. Additional issues discussed included UN special rapporteurs, UNGA presidency, burden-sharing, the appointment of a new OHCHR, EU posting at the HRC, and the UN Democracy Fund. END SUMMARY. Background -------------- ¶2. (SBU) DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles, IO DAS Rees and IO/RHS Director Keshap met with French MFA International Organizations Director Sylvie Bermann, Human Rights Director Jacques Pellet, and MFA Human Rights officers Emmanuel Pineda, Raphael Trapp, Cecile Vigneau, and Bernard Regnauld-Fabre at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris on July 17. GOF: "More Vocal" EU Presidency; U.S. should remain in HRC -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) French MFA Director Bermann promised a "more vocal" French-led European Union (EU) presidency during the 63rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),especially on issues of human rights. Bermann agreed with USG officials that while the atmosphere in the UN had been regressing on these issues, most notably after the recent Chinese and Russian vetoes of a UN Security Council (SC) decision on Zimbabwe, she believed the "time was now" to build a like-minded coalition with EU, USG, Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) and Francophone countries (particularly in Africa) to counter Russia, China and their allies. Bermann noted that the EU strongly believed the UN Human Rights Council (HRC),while not perfect, needs to be a primary focus for human rights in the UN system, not just the UNGA Third Committee. She warned that by disengaging from the HRC, the USG would be "playing into the hands" of the most egregious offenders of human rights who sat on the Council. Another benefit of the HRC, said Bermann, was the important role that international civil society and NGOs played in the human rights process in Geneva, which was not as strong as in the UNGA Third Committee. She pointed to the UPR process as one place where this dynamic forced governments to work more closely with NGOs. She believed the EU, USG and other allies would continue to benefit by this process in Geneva. The U.S. delegation made the case for the U.S. decision to PARIS 00001446 002.2 OF 006 disengage from the HRC. ¶4. (C) Bermann and Pellet agreed with the USG that more should be done to bring in certain African countries which historically side with their "block," towards more productive human rights policies. Burkina Faso was cited as an example of country that took an important step on the UNSC vote to isolate Zimbabwe. "Spoilers" of a more robust human rights agenda, such as Pakistan, Algeria and Egypt, continued to oppose USG and EU positions and to enlist counter-productive support from others. Pellet and Bermann suggested that Washington use its influence on Pakistan to mitigate this problem. In addition to UNGA issues, Berman confirmed that two Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary celebrations have been planned in Paris to be held in October and December of this year. The October UN-sponsored event is slated to be a major NGO meeting planned at UNESCO with participation of approximately 2,000 NGOs. The December anniversary celebration will also take place in Paris and will be sponsored by the Government of France, but the French MFA said details of the event are still being sorted out by President Sarkozy,s office. UN Secretary General (SYG) Ban was planning to attend the December event. Bermann also said the EU would appreciate USG attendance pre-UNGA for consultations in Brussels on September 1, as well as for a follow-on session in New York on September 4. UNGA Third Committee: Country Specific Issues -------------- - ¶5. (C) State DRL and IO and French MFA officials discussed several country-specific issues on July 17. While the EU COHOM believes pushing new resolutions on new countries would be extremely difficult, Pellet proposed the EU and USG concentrate on taking on one (rather than multiple) additional resolutions focused on crisis countries. The following are GOF positions and/or responses on the issues: -- IRAN: Pellet affirmed that ensuring passage of the Canadian-sponsored Iran remained the most important priority for the EU at the 63rd UNGA. The U.S. participants, while making clear that there is not yet a final USG decision on this or any other resolution, agreed that Iran is the top priority. -- BELARUS: Pellet said the EU backs the USG position on the issue, and could agree to present the resolution to the Third Committee if the U.S. does not. The U.S. participants, while making clear that there is not yet a final USG decision on this or any other resolution, agreed that Iran is the top priority. -- BURMA: Pellet said the EU would run its resolution on Burma again this year. If the EU were to run a resolution on Zimbabwe, it might ask the U.S. to take on the sponsorship of the Burma resolution -- something the U.S. participants said would be considered pending a decision on Zimbabwe. -- DPRK: Pellet said the EU had also decided to run its resolution on DPRK, and hoped for U.S. support, which the U.S. delegation assured him the U.S. would do. -- SUDAN: The GOF and EU acknowledged that the first UNHRC-mandated experts group (December 2006, 4th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Darfur, "Decision S-4/101 adopted by the Human Rights Council") failed due to lack of cooperation by the Sudanese government. The second UNHRC-mandated group composed of Special Rapporteurs (March 2007, 4th Session of the UNHRC, "Follow-up to decision S-4/101 of 13 December 2006 adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fourth special session entitled 'Situation of human rights in Darfur'") likewise was unable to gain access to Sudan. Pellet and Pineda said that during the second effort, Sudan followed PARIS 00001446 003.2 OF 006 through with a limited number of measures, and that language in the rapporteurs' report was strong in pointing out human rights abuses. For this reason Pineda said it was wrong to say that the HRC was not working when it came to Sudan and Darfur, something the U.S. delegation disputed given the desultory third UNHRC resolution on Sudan (June 2007, 5th Session of the UNHRC, "Follow-up to resolution 4/8 of 30 March 2007 adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fourth session entitled Follow-up to decision S-4/101, of 13 December 2006 adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fourth special session entitled Situation of human rights in Darfur")and the fourth and final resolution on Sudan (December 2007, 6th Session of the UNHRC, "Human Rights Council Group of Experts on the situation of human rights in Darfur"),which failed to extend the mandate of the Group of Experts and failed to hold Sudan accountable for its weak implementation of that Group's recommendations. Regarding the July international Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of Sudan President Omar al-Bashir for genocide, Pellet said the EU understood the indictment but worried about possible retribution against UNAMID and humanitarian workers on the ground in Sudan and Darfur. Pellet said he was under the impression that ICC judges would render a decision on the indictment sometime this October. The EU, said Pineda, would prefer to not have Sudan raised in the UNGA Third Committee. Pineda did concede that the EU should work on getting better support on the issue in the HRC from Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, and Nigeria. -- ZIMBABWE: Referring to the double Russia/China veto, Pellet said the GOF was disappointed in the failure of the Security Council to do something about Zimbabwe. He said the EU COHOM on July 7th had decided that Mugabe's human rights abuses and destruction of democratic and economic institutions should be addressed somehow, but had not been able to reach a decision as to whether a Special Session of the HRC or action in the UNGA Third Committee would be better. The EU strongly favored taking action on Zimbabwe over action on Sudan, and understood that the U.S. would view more favorably action at the UNGA Third Committee given our disengagement from the UNHRC. -- UZBEKISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA: Given the 2007 EU Central Asia Common Policy, Pellet said priority in the EU would focus on seeking improvements in the human rights situations in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, the latter in particular due to its upcoming 2010 OSCE Chairman in Office. He said the EU did not want a resolution on Uzbekistan at the UNGA because there would not be consensus among EU members, especially those governments which believe there has been some small improvements on the ground. The GOF was sending a new ambassador to Tashkent who would attend an EU Ambassador's conference on July 28-29 during which he welcome an opportunity to meet the U.S. ambassador to Tashkent while in town (Note: Embassy Paris has conveyed this information to EUR/SCA). The EU challenge was to engage on promoting human rights in Uzbekistan without the complication of adding this to the HRC agenda. The GOF supports further opening of the media in Uzbekistan. The U.S. participants agreed that an Uzbekistan resolution was unlikely to garner wide support, but stressed the importance of a working in close coordination to press for greater progress on human rights in Uzbekistan, and to stop any backsliding. The U.S. side stressed in particular the need for the GOU to grant full and permanent access for the ICRC to all detention facilities, release all political prisoners, address serious child labor concerns, and make progress on freedom of religion issues as first steps. -- ERITREA: The GOF considers the situation in Eritrea bleak, said Pellet. But before there could be any action in the UN system, the EU would need an assessment of EU relations with Eritrea, as well as an assessment of current African Union efforts there. PARIS 00001446 004.2 OF 006 -- NEED TO VARY COUNTRY RESOLUTIONS: Pellet noted that some of the country-specific resolutions do not need to be run every year, and expressed a preference for bringing country-specific resolutions every two years in the absence of extraordinary circumstances so that the number and variety of resolutions could be increased. UNGA Third Committee: Thematic Issues -------------- ¶6. (C) Several thematic issues were also covered during the July 17 meeting. The following are GOF responses and/or positions on the issues: -- FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: Pellet noted that the GOF and EU considered a freedom of expression resolution timely, especially on the 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Pellet advised building a multilateral coalition with others so the resolution did not appear as a joint USG/EU one. He suggested asking friendly African Union (AU) and GRULAC members to not just co-sponsor but co-author the resolution. While the final text may be a bit watered down, a real coalition might ensure its passage, he said. Pellet recommended that the coalition be constructed from a mix of nations from different regions as well, and number only around 10 to 12 countries total, so that not all 27 EU countries would appear to be dominating the coalition. Pellet noted it would be better to have one or two EU countries as co-sponsors for this reason, although consultations would be needed for EU backing and support of the resolution, and would depend on what was in the text. In drawing parallels with EU strategy on the death penalty resolution in the 62nd UNGA, Pellet suggested the USG consult with NGOs on the resolution and recommended an NGO called, "Article 19" that worked exclusively on freedom of expression issues. -- RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE: Pellet indicated that the EU is still considering whether to run this resolution at the UNGA Third Committee or only at the HRC in Geneva. The U.S. side urged that the EU run the resolution in New York and that it correct problematic amendments that had cropped up when the resolution was last passed in Geneva. -- PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE RESOLUTION AT THIRD COMMITTEE: Pellet believed a prisoners of conscience resolution, if the text deviated too much from the Prisoners of Conscience Declaration that the EU co-table in New York in June could put the EU presidency in a "bad position," as several (he conceded one or two) EU countries would protest that the resolution was targeting Cuba. The U.S. delegation noted that while no decision had been made, we were considering a resolution and would share further ideas and a draft text soon with the GOF. -- PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE EVENT: (NOTE: This successful event was held in the UN in New York on July 24 without EU co-sponsorship. End Note.) There was an EU discussion at the July 7 COHOM about the upcoming prisoners of conscience event in New York, but no agreement was reached on co-sponsoring the event, he said. Pellet suggested the EU would back the measure if it was proposed in Geneva instead of New York, as the EU believed the former was the "proper location." To give the planned prisoners of conscience event more credibility, Pellet recommended the USG invite former prisoners and family members from places other than the most egregious abusers of human rights -- such as from Europe and other democratic countries -- as it would give the appearance that the exercise was not solely focused on Cuba, which was the main concern of a few EU members. -- DEATH PENALTY: Pellet said he expects to receive a report from the UN in late September as called for in the EU-tabled death penalty resolution from the 62nd (2007) UNGA. He said PARIS 00001446 005.2 OF 006 the EU would table a "short technical resolution noting the report" at the upcoming UNGA -- not the long text from last year. Forthwith, the EU had agreed it would table the death penalty resolution only every other year (e.g. 2008, 2010, 2012, etc.). When the U.S. delegation pointed out that the UN report upon which the EU intends to base its resolution would likely not be out until the spring or summer of 2009, as is standard practice, Pellet and his team were non-plussed and said they would look into the timing of the report. The U.S. team pointed out that it is precisely this delay in reporting that necessitates running thematic resolutions every other year, and stressed to the GOF it would be better for the EU to wait until 2009 to consider running a death penalty resolution. Pellet said he would look into the timing, and get back to the U.S. both on that issue and -- if the EU decides to proceed -- with a draft text. -- MIGRANTS: Pineda noted that a resolution on migrants, authored by Mexico, might cause problems within the EU, notably in France, with the recently approved EU Immigration Pact. -- RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: While there were still issues to work out on the language of the resolution within the EU, Pellet hoped a compromise could be made with the USG similar to what was done to accommodate the United Kingdom regarding the military recruitment age. He promised to share a draft text with the U.S. delegation in the near future and asked for an assessment of what language we could accept. He suggested the text could be framed around "illegal recruitment" of those under age 18, which would not adversely affect U.S. law. Pellet said the GOF and EU would organize a forum on child soldiers on the margins of the UNGA on September 26, chaired by French Secretary of State in Charge of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, Rama Yade. -- SEXUAL ORIENTATION: France intends to take some action -- but not a resolution -- at the UNGA on abuse of human rights based on sexual orientation, and the EU is on board with the concept. The EU will likely attempt a declaration -- something the U.S. delegation urged be done only after all the voting on country specific resolutions at the end of December. Such a declaration would likely focus on the decriminalization of homosexuals as a follow-up to the Norwegian declaration to the HRC in Geneva in 2006, Pellet said. The U.S. urged that any declaration focus on abuse of human rights and draw from the widely supported (including USG) text of the Norwegian declaration and the recent OAS declaration. The U.S. delegation provided a copy of the both to Pellet. He said the EU, with the support of Brazil and New Zealand, would work on securing co-authors and co-sponsors to present the declaration during the UNGA plenary session in December. While the EU knew the declaration was controversial, the EU currently had the support of 50 countries and expects to have 54 soon. The EU would share a draft text with the USG soon, he said. ADDITIONAL ISSUES -------------- ¶7. (C) Additional topics of discussion: -- VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: Pellet said the GOF, with involvement from the Netherlands and Belgium, believed that violence against women was a priority and was pleased to have joined in the one day session on this issue during the U.S. presidency of the UNSC in June. -- RAPPORTEURS: While HRC rapporteurs could be tough at times -- Pellet mentioned a meeting earlier in the year between UN rapporteur Mrs. MacDougal and MFA Secretary Rama Yade about minority rights in France that ended with MacDougal unexpectedly critiquing France at a press conference -- the GOF and EU would continue to work to get other countries to PARIS 00001446 006.2 OF 006 be more accepting of rapporteurs and their missions. -- NEW UN HCHR: Regarding the selection of a new UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Pellet believed SYG Ban clearly wanted a female candidate. He noted the GOF did not think any of the three names on the "short list" were stand-out candidates. Pellet noted that the EU had not yet collectively raised this sentiment with the SYG's office. -- BURDEN-SHARING AND NO ACTION MOTIONS: Pellet said he would consult with EU experts in New York to work out proposals for sharing lobbying and other responsibilities in connection with opposing no-action motions -- the critical votes for all the country specific resolutions and especially the Iran and Belarus resolutions. He agreed that missions in New York should consult before August holidays on how best to garner support for all human rights resolutions at the UNGA. -- EU POSTING AT HRC PRESIDENCY: Pellet said the EU plans to post a diplomat at the HRC presidency in Geneva in place of the current Swiss diplomat whose appointment expires this summer. The EU would not have any specifics about potential candidates until September or October of this year. -- UN DEMOCRACY FUND: Pellet and Pineda said the GOF did not want the selection of board members for the UN Democracy Fund changed in any way that would cause France to lose its seat. Pellet asked for USG help on this issue. ¶8. (U) Minimize for Misk considered. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Fran ce STAPLETON