Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE96873
2008-09-10 16:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
ADDITIONAL EXCEPTION TO USG DISENGAGEMENT AT HRC
how-toVZCZCXYZ0021 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #6873 2541724 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 101652Z SEP 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 3745 INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 7745 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3000
UNCLAS STATE 096873
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL EXCEPTION TO USG DISENGAGEMENT AT HRC
NINTH REGULAR SESSION
REF: A. STATE 060306
B. STATE 060310
C. STATE 093277
D. CASSYRE-OSTERMEIER EMAIL 09-05-08
UNCLAS STATE 096873
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL EXCEPTION TO USG DISENGAGEMENT AT HRC
NINTH REGULAR SESSION
REF: A. STATE 060306
B. STATE 060310
C. STATE 093277
D. CASSYRE-OSTERMEIER EMAIL 09-05-08
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph
4. This cable supplements guidance to Geneva for
exceptions to the U.S. policy of disengagement at the UN
Human Rights Council during the September 8-26 Ninth
Regular Session (reftel C).
2. (SBU) Department appreciates Mission's reporting on
expected resolutions at the upcoming HRC session (reftel
D). The expected resolution by Egypt, "Protection of
Human Rights in Armed Conflict," may contain seriously
problematic language that could have a negative impact on
vital U.S. legal interests by asserting
mischaracterizations of international law that would
migrate into other fora where U.S. interests are at
stake. For these reasons, the Department has determined
that it falls within the exception to the general rule of
US non-engagement at the HRC.
3. (SBU) U.S. Mission is authorized to be present in
informal meetings on the resolution, and to work
bilaterally with Egypt. As reflected in ref B, "[t]he
focus of U.S. efforts will be to remove or neutralize
language that could seek to redefine international legal
obligations of the United States in a manner contrary to
our interests or that would otherwise seriously jeopardize
U.S. policies and practices, particularly with respect to
the Global War on Terror (GWOT)." In other resolutions
Egypt has been at the forefront of efforts to inaccurately
conflate international humanitarian law (i.e. law of armed
conflict) with human rights principles in an attempt to
criticize U.S. counter-terrorism and military operations.
The very title of Egypt?s proposed resolution suggests
that these same types of issues will be the focus of the
resolution.
4. (SBU) Mission is instructed to monitor developments and
engage in defensive participation at the informals of the
September HRC session on this resolution as described
above, consistent with guidance on previous exceptions to
U.S. disengagement listed in reftel C.
RICE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL EXCEPTION TO USG DISENGAGEMENT AT HRC
NINTH REGULAR SESSION
REF: A. STATE 060306
B. STATE 060310
C. STATE 093277
D. CASSYRE-OSTERMEIER EMAIL 09-05-08
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph
4. This cable supplements guidance to Geneva for
exceptions to the U.S. policy of disengagement at the UN
Human Rights Council during the September 8-26 Ninth
Regular Session (reftel C).
2. (SBU) Department appreciates Mission's reporting on
expected resolutions at the upcoming HRC session (reftel
D). The expected resolution by Egypt, "Protection of
Human Rights in Armed Conflict," may contain seriously
problematic language that could have a negative impact on
vital U.S. legal interests by asserting
mischaracterizations of international law that would
migrate into other fora where U.S. interests are at
stake. For these reasons, the Department has determined
that it falls within the exception to the general rule of
US non-engagement at the HRC.
3. (SBU) U.S. Mission is authorized to be present in
informal meetings on the resolution, and to work
bilaterally with Egypt. As reflected in ref B, "[t]he
focus of U.S. efforts will be to remove or neutralize
language that could seek to redefine international legal
obligations of the United States in a manner contrary to
our interests or that would otherwise seriously jeopardize
U.S. policies and practices, particularly with respect to
the Global War on Terror (GWOT)." In other resolutions
Egypt has been at the forefront of efforts to inaccurately
conflate international humanitarian law (i.e. law of armed
conflict) with human rights principles in an attempt to
criticize U.S. counter-terrorism and military operations.
The very title of Egypt?s proposed resolution suggests
that these same types of issues will be the focus of the
resolution.
4. (SBU) Mission is instructed to monitor developments and
engage in defensive participation at the informals of the
September HRC session on this resolution as described
above, consistent with guidance on previous exceptions to
U.S. disengagement listed in reftel C.
RICE