ASSESSMENT OF BULGARIA'S CANDIDACY TO THE UN HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000695 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2014 TAGS: PHUM REL KDEM SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT OF BULGARIA'S CANDIDACY TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: SECSTATE 120835 Classified By: CDA Susan Sutton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to Rakovski Lashev, the head of the Human Rights Unit at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 2. Lashev thanked us for the proposal saying Bulgaria would closely consider it and provide a formal position at a later date. On December 3 we received written notice from Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raykov that the Government of Bulgaria will not seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in the upcoming elections. Raykov explained that the available diplomatic and administrative resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are predominantly focused on human rights issues which are not immediately related to the agenda and proceedings of the UN Human Rights Council at this time. However, Bulgaria would like to be considered for the Council at a later date. SUTTON