USG PARTICIPATION IN THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

UNCLAS KIGALI 000129 DEPT PLEASE PASS TO IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL RW SUBJECT: USG PARTICIPATION IN THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND THE DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE REF: STATE 18282 Charge delivered reftel demarche on the Human Rights Council and draft outcome document for the Durban Review Conference to IO Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ben Rutsinga on February 27. Rutsinga listened attentively to reftel talking points on USG concern over the draft document, and asked what the USG wished Rwanda to do. Charge reviewed reftel para 9 points a-e and asked that Rwanda do what it could to moderate the draft text, pointing out that in the lead-up to the 2001 WCAR itself, Rwanda's Permanent Mission had played an extraordinary role working with the U.S. on similar issues. Rutsinga pledged to discuss the outcome document with Rwanda's ambassador in Geneva; he was unaware of the depth of the Rwandan delegation's involvement to date in that draft text. SIM