DEMARCHE DELIVERED: U.S. CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000572 SIPDIS IO/RHS FOR OSTERMEIER GENEVA FOR CASSAYRE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2029 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN EG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: U.S. CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: STATE 31175 Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reason 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C) On April 2, DCM informed MFA Spokesman and Senior Advisor to the Foreign Minister Hossam Zaki that the U.S. is seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC),and requested the GOE's vote in May (reftel). DCM underscored that the U.S. believes it can do more to advance human rights and improve the UNHRC as a fully engaged member of the council. Zaki took the points on board, but did not offer a substantive response. ¶2. (C) On April 1, we also delivered reftel demarche to MFA Deputy Director for Human Rights Omar Shalaby Shalaby who welcomed the U.S. decision, and said that during recent internal MFA discussions on UNHRC candidates, GOE officials saw the possibility of a U.S. candidacy as "positive." Shalaby said the GOE had not yet decided how to vote, but would review the U.S. request for support. He noted the Foreign Minister would begin internal MFA discussions on the issue April 2. Speaking personally, Shalaby told us he expected that increased U.S. engagement with the UNHRC would be productive. SCOBEY