Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COPENHAGEN93
2009-02-19 14:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:
DANES WEIGH WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN II
how-toVZCZCXRO6845 PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHCP #0093 0501436 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 191436Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4808 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0682 RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000093
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC DA
SUBJECT: DANES WEIGH WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN II
REF: STATE 14201
UNCLAS COPENHAGEN 000093
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC DA
SUBJECT: DANES WEIGH WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN II
REF: STATE 14201
1. (SBU) Denmark welcomes our good-faith effort to rescue the
Durban Review Conference, but agrees that an acceptable
outcome remains unlikely, Kira Smith Sindbjerg of the Danish
MFA's Human Rights Department informed us in response to
reftel demarche. Among Denmark's top priorities is opposing
any language advocating limits to freedom of expression,
Sindbjerg reported, remarking that the issue remains closely
followed by the Danish opposition and media in the wake of
the 2006 Mohammed cartoons crisis. While allowing that the
Geneva working group had begun in an improved atmosphere and
that the session may be extended, Sindbjerg doubted that
there would be sufficient progress to permit Denmark's
attendance at the April conference.
2. (SBU) Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller will
probably wait until after a mid-March meeting of Nordic and
African leaders to announce that Denmark will not attend
Durban II, Sindbjerg said, reporting that Moller would like
to continue to lobby African counterparts on the issue for as
long as possible. Sindbjerg allowed that an earlier
announcement of non-attendance by the Netherlands or the UK
-- seen as likely barring unexpected progress this week and
next -- could force Denmark to move sooner.
MCCULLEY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC DA
SUBJECT: DANES WEIGH WITHDRAWAL FROM DURBAN II
REF: STATE 14201
1. (SBU) Denmark welcomes our good-faith effort to rescue the
Durban Review Conference, but agrees that an acceptable
outcome remains unlikely, Kira Smith Sindbjerg of the Danish
MFA's Human Rights Department informed us in response to
reftel demarche. Among Denmark's top priorities is opposing
any language advocating limits to freedom of expression,
Sindbjerg reported, remarking that the issue remains closely
followed by the Danish opposition and media in the wake of
the 2006 Mohammed cartoons crisis. While allowing that the
Geneva working group had begun in an improved atmosphere and
that the session may be extended, Sindbjerg doubted that
there would be sufficient progress to permit Denmark's
attendance at the April conference.
2. (SBU) Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller will
probably wait until after a mid-March meeting of Nordic and
African leaders to announce that Denmark will not attend
Durban II, Sindbjerg said, reporting that Moller would like
to continue to lobby African counterparts on the issue for as
long as possible. Sindbjerg allowed that an earlier
announcement of non-attendance by the Netherlands or the UK
-- seen as likely barring unexpected progress this week and
next -- could force Denmark to move sooner.
MCCULLEY