BANGLADESH NON-COMMITAL ON USG CANDIDACY FOR HUMAN

UNCLAS DHAKA 000346 SIPDIS IO/RHS FOR AMY OSTERMEIER AND GAYATRI PATEL, DRL/MGA FOR LYNN SICADE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BG PGOV PHUM PREL SUBJECT: BANGLADESH NON-COMMITAL ON USG CANDIDACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: STATE 31175 ¶1. (U) On April 6, PolOff spoke with M. Mahbubul Alam in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) UN and Human Rights Wing, to convey reftel points and urge the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) to support the USG,s candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). We emphasized that the US was committed to active engagement on human rights issues through multilateral institutions and that the UN was a key forum for advancing the cause of human rights. We also added that we have been concerned with the direction that the Council has taken in recent years and firmly believed that engaging with the institution from within was the most effective way to reform it. Mr. Alam stated that the GOB welcomed the USG,s candidacy but could not offer a pledge of support at this stage since it was also a candidate and was deciding which countries to support. He added that such decisions were typically made by the Foreign Minister after taking several factors, including the country,s external obligations, into account. ¶2. (U) We will follow up with Senior GOB officials. PASI