Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VILNIUS655
2009-12-07 06:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:
LITHUANIA: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVL #0655 3410620 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 070620Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3944
C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000655
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL
REF: STATE 120835
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000655
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL
REF: STATE 120835
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) We discussed reftel points on December 2 with Julius
Rakitskis, head of the MFA's Human Rights Division. He said
that while he and other colleagues would be in favor of
Lithuania seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council
(HRC),MFA leaders apparently have decided not to do so,
largely because upcoming leadership roles in the OSCE and EU
will stretch thin the ministry's resources. Rakitskis
suggested that if the United States wished to persuade
Lithuania to seek a seat on the HRC, the Ambassador or
another high-level Department official should make an
approach to Foreign Minister Usackas.
2. (C) Currently, Lithuania has only two diplomats in
Geneva to cover all of the international organizations based
there. As it prepares to take on the chairmanship of the
OSCE in 2011, the MFA is preparing to beef up its presence in
Vienna and Warsaw, Rakitskis said. It also will add
personnel in Brussels before taking on the EU presidency in
2013. In general, however, Lithuania is in severe budgetary
straits, and the MFA has had to bring some diplomats back
from abroad to save money.
3. (C) Rakitskis said that Estonia already is campaigning
openly for a seat on the HRC in 2012, and that he and his
colleagues have learned that Latvia will seek an HRC seat in
2014.
DERSE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL
REF: STATE 120835
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) We discussed reftel points on December 2 with Julius
Rakitskis, head of the MFA's Human Rights Division. He said
that while he and other colleagues would be in favor of
Lithuania seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council
(HRC),MFA leaders apparently have decided not to do so,
largely because upcoming leadership roles in the OSCE and EU
will stretch thin the ministry's resources. Rakitskis
suggested that if the United States wished to persuade
Lithuania to seek a seat on the HRC, the Ambassador or
another high-level Department official should make an
approach to Foreign Minister Usackas.
2. (C) Currently, Lithuania has only two diplomats in
Geneva to cover all of the international organizations based
there. As it prepares to take on the chairmanship of the
OSCE in 2011, the MFA is preparing to beef up its presence in
Vienna and Warsaw, Rakitskis said. It also will add
personnel in Brussels before taking on the EU presidency in
2013. In general, however, Lithuania is in severe budgetary
straits, and the MFA has had to bring some diplomats back
from abroad to save money.
3. (C) Rakitskis said that Estonia already is campaigning
openly for a seat on the HRC in 2012, and that he and his
colleagues have learned that Latvia will seek an HRC seat in
2014.
DERSE