LITHUANIA APPLAUDS U.S. DECISION ON UN HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000121 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA APPLAUDS U.S. DECISION ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: SECSTATE 18282 Classified By: DCM Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). (C) We delivered reftel points on February 27 to Julius Rakitskis, head of the MFA's Human Rights Division. He said the GOL very much appreciated the decision by the United States to resume participation as an observer at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC),and hoped the United States would soon decide to participate as a full HRC member. He also said Lithuania and almost all EU countries shared the U.S. view concerning the draft outcome document for the Durban Review Conference, and wished to see changes on the same points that disturb the United States. He thanked the United States for making the effort it did in those negotiations. CLOUD