DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ELECTION & UPR

UNCLAS HANOI 000364 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS, EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL VM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ELECTION & UPR REF: A) STATE 36629 B) STATE 31175 ¶1. (SBU) In a April 17 conversation with Director General of MFA's International Organizations Department, Le Hoai Trung, PolCouns passed on the diplomatic note regarding U.S. candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council as well as a copy of the U.S. human rights pledge (Ref A). PolCouns encouraged the GVN to support the United States in its bid to join the Human Rights Council and relayed points contained in Ref B. DG Trung responded that the GVN would consider the request. ¶2. (SBU) DG Trung also used the opportunity to discuss Vietnam's upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the council on May 8 and passed a copy of the GVN prepared national report as well as an aide-memoire regarding preparation of the report (scanned and e-mailed to the desk and DRL). DG Trung said much effort and consultation had gone into preparing the national report. He also recognized "some failings and weaknesses" in the area of human rights but encouraged the U.S. to be "objective" and "constructive" in its comments at the UPR session. PolCouns responded that the GVN knew most areas of concern for the U.S. regarding human rights and highlighted the need for improvements regarding freedom of the press, freedoms of speech and assembly (including the release of prisoners of concern),rights of association (labor issues) and asked for continued progress in the area of religious freedom. MICHALAK