AMBASSADOR RICE MEETING WITH UNHCHR PILLAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000622 E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019 TAGS: PHUM SOCI KUNR KWBG SU CE SF QA IN XF SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETING WITH UNHCHR PILLAY Classified By: Ambassador Susan E Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) (d) Confidential SUMMARY -------------- 1.(C) HCHR Pillay met with Ambassador Rice at USUN. In the meeting, Pillay: -- Praised the U.S. role in obtaining passage of a strong Sudan resolution at the HRC; -- Revealed that the Israeli Perm Rep in Geneva had signaled Israel's willingness to engage the HRC and OHCHR by responding to her forthcoming report on Gaza at the next session of the HRC in September, and to send a special envoy to meet with various departments in the HC's office; -- Encouraged the USA to engage "on principles" in the HRC, and not just "from the top down"; -- Requested U.S. support for elevating the status of head of her New York office to the A/SYG level. 2.(C) (Summary continued.) Ambassador Rice told HCHR Pillay that the United States wants to energize the HRC and focus efforts on serious abuses. She told Pillay that the U.S. favors a strong presence for the OHCHR in New York, including at the A/SYG level, but that it could be counterproductive for us to take the lead. Pillay has written to Secretary Clinton requesting a meeting and will send a follow-up letter. End summary. 3.(SBU) Ambassador Rice met June 23 at USUN with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay. Pillay was accompanied by HCHR New York office director Jessica Neuwirth and human rights officer Laila Bourhil. ECOSOC human rights officer attended as note taker. Human Rights Council -------------- 4.(C) Pillay praised the very quiet and effective work of the U.S. charge in Geneva in helping secure passage of the Sudan resolution. She contrasted this outcome with the result of the special session on Sri Lanka, where the EU was ineffectual, carrying out few if any demarches (this was confirmed to her by Ambassadors from India, Mexico and South Africa). Sri Lanka and its allies, meanwhile, had a draft resolution ready to go and simply outmaneuvered the EU. 5.(C)Ambassador Rice suggested that the U.S. should be pushing the EU to do more. Pillay concurred, "especially on principles" and country-specific issues. The HC said she would be meeting with the U.S. "attach" when she returns to Geneva, and will push for this principled approach, not "top down", including on country-specific issues. Pillay said she 
was pleased to hear that there would be a U.S. Human Rights Ambassador, but Ambassador Rice cautioned that, while likely, this had not been finally determined. 6.(C) Pillay believes that breaking up the solidarity of the regional groups is one key to success. There is a feeling that these divisions are important, while they are not. The "Arabs", for example, were showing some flexibility, aside from "Iran", Syria and Libya. The U.S. can play a role in this effort. (She had told Econ Off before the meeting that she had had an encouraging conversation with the head of the Commonwealth, who indicated a desire to play a role at the Council.) She views her participation in the opening of the new OHCHR training and leadership center in Doha as part of this effort. She will continue with missions to unspecified Arab states in the near future. Israel -------------- 7.(C) Israel and Gaza: Pillay recounted that the Israeli PR in Geneva had met with her one-on-one and revealed that Israel was considering engaging the HRC on Gaza, probably by responding to the HCHR's report. He asked for more time, and the HCHR agreed to defer her report, on the grounds that it wasn't ready, until the September meeting of the Council. She had to overcome objections from Egypt, but the PA office in Geneva had agreed. The Israeli PR added that Israel would send an envoy to Geneva to engage the OHCHR in looking for a more constructive approach for his country to the Council in a wide range of issues. Other issues -------------- 8.(C) Durban conference (WCAR) outcome: HCHR fears that Iran will try to open the review document when it is brought to the UNGA and bring in language that had not been agreed. Bourhil explained that Iran had two possible avenues to open the document: either amend the accompanying resolution endorsing the review document by inserting their language; or insert the entire Durban document with its own amendments into a resolution in the Third Committee item on "Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance". Ambassador Rice replied that this was unfortunate, but the U.S. having signed on neither in Durban or at the review conference, was not in a position to lead opposition to this initiative. 9.(C) A/SYG position: Ambassador Rice told HCHR Pillay that the U.S. favors a strong presence for the OHCHR in New York, and is supportive of the A/SYG position, but that no final decision has been made. However, it would be counterproductive for the U.S. to take the lead. Pillay responded that she had the full support of the SYG, but that she expected problems in the Fifth Committee and ACABQ. She said it was important to efforts to mainstream human rights in the UN system, and the Ambassador agreed. Neither Pillay nor her deputy can spend enough time in New York to represent the office in high-level meetings, where ASG level is a given, especially at the Security Council. Ambassador Rice said the OHCHR should be in the Council when appropriate. 10.(C) Request for meeting with Secretary Clinton: Pillay said she had sent a letter to the department requesting a meeting with the Secretary in Washington, but has not received a response. Ambassador Rice suggested that she follow up. RICE