RENEWING THE SUDAN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR MANDATE AT

UNCLAS ACCRA 000529 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/RHS AOSTERMEIER, IO/RHS GPATEL, AND DRL/MLGA LSICADE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PHUM PREL SUBJECT: RENEWING THE SUDAN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR MANDATE AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: SECSTATE 55852 (SBU) Per reftel, PolOff, accompanied by UK High Commission PolOff and Embassy of France Deputy Chief of Mission, delivered demarche to Dr. Kojo Assan, Director, International Organizations and Multilateral Bureau at the Ghana MFA. Assan reacted positively to the demarche and said that he is aware of the upcoming vote on renewing the mandate for the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Sudan (the Czech Embassy, representing the EU presidency, and the Embassy of Spain had lobbied last week for the EU drafted resolution). Assan sent a report to the Foreign Minister following that meeting. He said that an additional report will be sent to the Foreign Minister relaying the joint US/UK/France position. The Foreign Minister's final decision on Ghana's vote would then be conveyed to the delegation in Geneva, but he anticipated that, in line with Ghana's long standing prioritization on human rights, the Ghanaian vote would be in support of renewing the mandate. Post will advise if additional information is received. TEITELBAUM