GERMANY SUPPORTS U.S. CANDIDACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000454 DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO IO/RHS GAYATRI PATEL SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL GM SUBJECT: GERMANY SUPPORTS U.S. CANDIDACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: STATE 36629 Classified By: Acting Political Section Chief Betty Bernstein for reaso ns 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Acting Pol Section Chief met with MFA Division Chief for Human Rights Dieter Lamle April 17 to present reftel diplomatic note requesting support for the United States' candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the U.S. human rights pledge. Lamle said that Germany welcomes the U.S. candidacy and will support it. Lamle also noted that he and Human Rights Commissioner Guenter Nooke are scheduled to travel to Washington May 14-15 for meetings with State Department officials to exchange views on the HRC. He noted that Germany is "not very happy" with the work of the HRC to date and that the question is really not how to improve the HRC, but rather "how we can save it." Koenig