OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING: REQUEST FOR EMBASSY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 060838

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
VILNIUS ALSO FOR EMBASSY MINSK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM OSCE KDEM PREL
SUBJECT: OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING: REQUEST FOR EMBASSY
INPUT


1. (SBU) Summary and Action Request: The OSCE will conduct
its annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) from
September 29 through October 10 in Warsaw. The HDIM is the
OSCE's annual review of participating States, implementation
of their OSCE commitments to human rights and fundamental
freedoms. The USG takes an active role in ensuring the
success of the HDIM and offers specific criticism and praise
for the human rights performance of OSCE participating
States. As part of USG efforts to enhance our dialogue with
OSCE participating States on their implementation of OSCE
commitments, the Department requests that action addressees
provide information about areas of particular concern
regarding host government performance. Posts' responses will
be used to inform a pre-HDIM demarche to host governments,
which will cite areas about which the USG is concerned but
prepared to recognize progress during the HDIM, should the
host government's actions so merit. Action addressees are
requested to provide input by June 13; the Department also
welcomes responses from info addressees should there be a
human rights or democratic development issue we could
productively raise with your host government. End Summary
and action request.


2. (SBU) The annual OSCE HDIM meeting is a useful
stock-taking of countries, progress, or lack thereof, in
implementing their commitments to respect human rights and
basic freedoms )- such as democratic elections and freedom
of the press )- undertaken in the context of several OSCE
conventions, including most recently the 1992 Helsinki
Protocol. The USG has a long tradition of specifically
criticizing, at the HDIM, poor human rights and democracy
performance, when warranted. As part of our balanced
approach, we also commend countries, when appropriate, for
taking concrete steps to address specific issues. For
reference, posts may review last year's statements on the
USOSCE website: http://osce.usmission.gov/HDIM/hdim2007.html.


3. (SBU) The Department would like to enhance our dialogue
with OSCE participating States on this set of issues, and,
when possible, to use the HDIM as a tool to promote improved
human rights performance. To this end, Posts are requested
to provide input by June 13 on areas of concern in their host
government's human rights and democracy performance,
particularly those where there may be opportunities to use
the prospect of an HDIM review of performance on OSCE
commitments to promote reform or obtain specific deliverables
prior to the HDIM. Examples might include pressing for
registration of an NGO or for release of a political
prisoner.


4. (SBU) Posts' input will be used as the basis for a broad
demarche to OSCE capitals outlining USG concerns. This will
include country-specific suggestions for positive actions
that we would be prepared to recognize in the HDIM should the
host government undertake them. We hope that, by suggesting
specific actions and providing adequate time prior to the
HDIM for host governments to act, we will enhance the utility
of the HDIM as a diplomatic tool. The Department also has an
interest in presenting a balanced assessment of each OSCE
participating State's performance towards meeting its OSCE

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commitments, and therefore welcomes input on other positive
actions by host governments.


5. (U) Posts' input is appreciated.
RICE