Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DOHA561
2009-09-09 13:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
QATAR TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM ON HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO1507 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHDO #0561 2521329 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091329Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9381 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1408 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0231
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000561
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR I0/RHS (NEVILLE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL IR QA
SUBJECT: QATAR TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM ON HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL, SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT
REF: SECSTATE 90247
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mirembe L. Nantongo for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- MFA Director of International Organizations and UN
Affairs Abdulaziz Al-Sowaidi told P/E Chief Rice and Poloff
Caudill on September 8 that Qatar intends to seek another
term on the U.N. Human Rights Council. He also requested
U.S. support for its bid.
-- Al-Sowaidi said he did not know which other countries
would be seeking the seat.
-- Al-Sowaidi said that formal notification of Qatar's
candidacy and request for our support would be forwarded to
Embassy Doha or the State Department in Washington by
diplomatic note in the near future.
------------
(C) COMMENTS
------------
-- Qatar's overall human rights record is good, especially
given the region in which it is located.
-- Per reftel request, we assess that Qatar is unlikely to
support an objective assessment of alleged human rights
abuses committed by Israel or the Palestinians, or to
address country-specific situations in the absence of
consensus on the Council.
-- The Department's assessment of Qatar's voting record to
date on the Council in keeping with U.S. objectives (reftel)
would likely be the best indicator of Qatar's voting
pattern for a subsequent term.
End Key Points and Comments.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000561
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR I0/RHS (NEVILLE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL IR QA
SUBJECT: QATAR TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM ON HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL, SEEKS U.S. SUPPORT
REF: SECSTATE 90247
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mirembe L. Nantongo for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
--------------
(C) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- MFA Director of International Organizations and UN
Affairs Abdulaziz Al-Sowaidi told P/E Chief Rice and Poloff
Caudill on September 8 that Qatar intends to seek another
term on the U.N. Human Rights Council. He also requested
U.S. support for its bid.
-- Al-Sowaidi said he did not know which other countries
would be seeking the seat.
-- Al-Sowaidi said that formal notification of Qatar's
candidacy and request for our support would be forwarded to
Embassy Doha or the State Department in Washington by
diplomatic note in the near future.
--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------
-- Qatar's overall human rights record is good, especially
given the region in which it is located.
-- Per reftel request, we assess that Qatar is unlikely to
support an objective assessment of alleged human rights
abuses committed by Israel or the Palestinians, or to
address country-specific situations in the absence of
consensus on the Council.
-- The Department's assessment of Qatar's voting record to
date on the Council in keeping with U.S. objectives (reftel)
would likely be the best indicator of Qatar's voting
pattern for a subsequent term.
End Key Points and Comments.
¶1. (C) MFA Director for International Organization and UN
Affairs
Abdulaziz Al-Sowaidi told P/E Chief Rice and Poloff Caudill
on September 8 that Qatar will seek another term on the UN
Human Rights Council. He asked that the U.S. support
Qatar's efforts to retain its seat.
¶2. (C) Asked whether he knew of any other countries that
might run for the seat in the Asian Group, Al-Sowaidi said
that he did not. He suggested that we meet with MFA Human
Rights Director Shaykh Khalid Al-Thani for an assessment of
Qatar's chances at prevailing in an election.
¶3. (C) Al-Sowaidi said that he expected that Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Al-Mahmoud would soon
approve the instructions seeking U.S. support for Qatar's
candidacy.
¶4. (C) P/E Chief Rice undertook to advise Department of
Qatar's candidacy and request for U.S. support.
Nantongo