LITHUANIA WILL PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSAL PERIODIC

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000052 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA WILL PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW SESSION ON IRAN REF: SECSTATE 7242 ¶1. (SBU) We spoke with MFA's Head of Human Rights Division Julius Rakitskis on January 27 to deliver reftel talking points on the upcoming U.N. Human Rights Council's (HRC) Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Iran. We shared our concerns about the violence that occurred after the June 12 election as well as our plan to urge Iran to finalize the visit of a delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and to invite the Special Rapporteur on Torture to the country. Rakitskis confirmed that the GOL will submit written recommendations for Iran's UPR session. He said that the GOL's recommendations will echo our points on the Ashura violence. In addition the GOL's submission will raise concerns about the twelve Baha'i followers who have been detained in Iran. Rakitskis expects that all 27 EU members will be active in the UPR of Iran. ¶2. (SBU) We asked Rakitskis for his perspective on what more can be done to influence Iran to show a greater respect for human rights. He said that we must maintain pressure on Iran to improve its human rights record. Rakitskis elaborated that the GOL participated in an EU demarche on January 21 regarding Iran. He said the MFA's Political Director Eitvydas Bajarunas called the Iranian Charge D'Affaires in Warsaw, who is accredited to Lithuania, to raise "sensitive issues related to human rights" mainly related to the Ashura demonstrations. The Iranian Charge assured Bajurunas that his concerns will be transmitted to Tehran. In closing Rakitskis said that he thinks the UPR of Iran will have a significant influence on the upcoming session of the Human Rights Council in March. DERSE