PRC RESPONSE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, DURBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000535 SIPDIS FOR EAP/CM AND IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC UN CH SUBJECT: PRC RESPONSE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE REF: STATE 18282 Classified By: Classified by Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling . Reasons 1.4 B and D. ¶1. (C) The U.S. decision to resume participation as an active observer at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) during the March HRC session is "good news," MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department Human Rights Division Deputy Director Xu Jing told PolOff March 2. Responding to reftel points on the HRC, Xu said that U.S. participation in the HRC "will give China and the United States additional opportunities to work together on human rights issues." ¶2. (SBU) Separately, PolOff conveyed reftel points on the U.S. decision not to participate in further negotiations on the Durban Review Conference draft text to MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department Human Rights Division official Zhang Yi on March 2. Zhang promised to inform his superiors of this development and provide comments at a later date. PICCUTA