JAPAN CONSIDERS IRAN'S CHANCES FOR HRC MEMBERSHIP,

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002051 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS COLLEEN NEVILLE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019 TAGS: AORC PHUM UNGA JA SUBJECT: JAPAN CONSIDERS IRAN'S CHANCES FOR HRC MEMBERSHIP, "NOT GOOD" REF: STATE 90427 Classified By: POL M/C Robert Luke for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Embassy Tokyo Political Officer delivered reftel demarche to Deputy Director Seitoku Kawakami of MOFA's Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division. Kawakami stated there are already five candidates from the Asian Group for Human Rights Council (HRC) membership, "Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, the Maldives, and Qatar." Moreover, "East Timor has approached Japan with HRC candidacy application materials and so Japan believes East Timor will also become a candidate." ¶2. (C) Kamakami pointed out that in 2006, when Iran had run for the HRC, "it only got 58 votes, even though 97 votes are needed." HRC members have been watching the post-election situation in Iran and this will have a negative impact, he added, predicting that, "Iran will not earn any more votes then it got last time." Kawakami estimated that Malaysia would get the most votes, followed by Qatar, and Thailand. He was not sure about the Maldives or East Timor, because, he said, "the Maldives does not maintain many embassies worldwide to press its case, and Dili has not yet officially announced its candidacy." ¶2. (C) Kawakami concluded by saying Japan would not be able to run for the HRC in 2011, as three consecutive terms are not allowed, but that it would again seek a membership in 2012, at which point, "we will probably have to make some deals in order to get elected." ROOS