POLISH VIEWS ON U.S. HRC CANDIDACY, DURBAN REVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000361 SIPDIS IO/RHS - AMY OSTERMEIER AND GAYATRI PATEL DRL/MLGA - LYNN SICADE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV PL SUBJECT: POLISH VIEWS ON U.S. HRC CANDIDACY, DURBAN REVIEW REF: A. STATE 31175 ¶B. WARSAW 231 Classified By: Political Counselor Daniel Sainz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) As reported ref B, the Polish MFA positively assesses U.S. re-engagement with the Human Rights Council (HRC). When discussing the U.S.-announced candidacy for the HRC (ref A), the acting deputy director of the MFA's Department for United Nations and Human Rights, Jerzy Baurski, said the GOP is "very pleased" and would "obviously" vote in favor of the U.S. He reiterated that Poland plans to run for a seat in 2010 and expressed hope that the USG would reciprocate with a vote in favor of Poland. ¶2. (C) Baurski also raised the new draft Durban Review declaration circulated by Yuri Boychenko. Baurski said that the Polish MFA is still studying it but considers it a vast improvement in terms of Polish redlines (e.g., defamation of religion language, not targeting any single country or region, no anti-Semitic references). Baurski predicted the EU would find the new draft workable, but said the results of the preparatory committee meetings would be decisive. Baurski said the GOP would appreciate U.S. views, especially in light of the USG's February 27 statement indicating a willingness to re-engage if there were a document that meets USG criteria. ASHE