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