AUSTRIA TO PRESS IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW

UNCLAS VIENNA 000117 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL IR AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA TO PRESS IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW REF: STATE 7242 ¶1. Econpoloff discussed reftel points January 29 with Gerlinde Paschinger, MFA Human Rights Unit Chief of Minority Rights, Thomas Unger, from the Human Rights division of the MFA Office of the Legal Advisor, and Gerrit Ach, MFA Human Rights Desk Officer. Paschinger said the MFA had called in the Iranian Ambassador the previous week as part of an EU-wide demarche on human rights in Iran. MFA officials at the meeting raised concerns over the persecution of the Baha'i, abuse of young women, and Iran's obligation to protect defenders of human rights. Austria has yet to formulate its intervention on Iran's Universal Periodic Review (UPR),but will likely continue to press Iran on human rights, either as part of an EU effort or bilaterally, Paschinger said. Austria was also supportive of U.S. efforts in Geneva. Paschinger said Austria was particularly interested in pressing Iran to accept a visit from UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak, who is also the Director of the Vienna-based Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights. ¶2. Unger said Austria planned to use Canada's resolution on Iran passed through the UNGA Third Committee as a start for its dialogue. However, Unger suggested that Austria would prefer to support a resolution on Iran that passed with broad-based geographical support. ¶3. As an aside, Unger noted that since the Human Rights Council (HRC) was relatively new and up for review in 2011, the GOA was interested in knowing the USG's plans regarding the HRC review. (Note: Austria will run for the HRC in 2011.) EACHO