Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU580
2009-12-07 13:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
BENIN: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
how-toVZCZCXRO9540 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0580 3411310 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071310Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1211 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0995 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS COTONOU 000580
SIPDIS
SENTITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
DEPT FOR AF/W ASHLEY STEWART, OI/HR COLLEEN NEVILLE
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Ref: STATE 120835
UNCLAS COTONOU 000580
SIPDIS
SENTITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
DEPT FOR AF/W ASHLEY STEWART, OI/HR COLLEEN NEVILLE
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Ref: STATE 120835
1. (SBU) Poloff met with Deputy Director for International
Institutions Thierry Alia and delivered points reftel on December 4,
2009. Alia, whose most recent prior assignment was in the human
rights office at the Ministry of Justice, said that Benin has been a
democracy since the end of the "revolutions" in 1990, and will
continue to develop its human rights even while surrounded by
"difficult neighbors".
2. (U) Alia noted that Benin had been a lead drafter of the AU
Charter of Human Rights and that all of Benin's laws conformed to
those principals. He said that the government was fully on board
with human rights and the next steps would be educating the populace
of those rights.
3. (SBU) Responses keyed to the questions in para 5 reftel:
---Capacity: Benin has an Embassy in Geneva.
---Alignment with US on key issues: Benin abstained in all three
country specific human rights resolutions and in the
anti-Palestinian resolutions. This is an improvement from previous
"yes" votes.
---Group Dynamics: Benin is a member of the AU, OIC and G77.
However, Benin has in some cases voted independently.
4. (SBU) COMMENT. Benin would be very open to running for a seat on
the Council. They are proud of their democracy and human rights
record. Post knows of no circumstances that would make Benin
unsuitable for the task of promoting human rights.
KNIGHT
SIPDIS
SENTITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
DEPT FOR AF/W ASHLEY STEWART, OI/HR COLLEEN NEVILLE
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Ref: STATE 120835
1. (SBU) Poloff met with Deputy Director for International
Institutions Thierry Alia and delivered points reftel on December 4,
2009. Alia, whose most recent prior assignment was in the human
rights office at the Ministry of Justice, said that Benin has been a
democracy since the end of the "revolutions" in 1990, and will
continue to develop its human rights even while surrounded by
"difficult neighbors".
2. (U) Alia noted that Benin had been a lead drafter of the AU
Charter of Human Rights and that all of Benin's laws conformed to
those principals. He said that the government was fully on board
with human rights and the next steps would be educating the populace
of those rights.
3. (SBU) Responses keyed to the questions in para 5 reftel:
---Capacity: Benin has an Embassy in Geneva.
---Alignment with US on key issues: Benin abstained in all three
country specific human rights resolutions and in the
anti-Palestinian resolutions. This is an improvement from previous
"yes" votes.
---Group Dynamics: Benin is a member of the AU, OIC and G77.
However, Benin has in some cases voted independently.
4. (SBU) COMMENT. Benin would be very open to running for a seat on
the Council. They are proud of their democracy and human rights
record. Post knows of no circumstances that would make Benin
unsuitable for the task of promoting human rights.
KNIGHT