Wikileaks - DCCXCI

114449 7/5/2007 15:19 07BUCHAREST778 Embassy Bucharest CONFIDENTIAL 07STATE91539 VZCZCXRO3860 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHBM #0778 1861519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051519Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6946 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0744 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0388 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0143 C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000778

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/MLGA - JORDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016 TAGS: PHUM, PREL, EUN, UNHRC-1, RO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UN HRC 5TH SESSION

REF: A. STATE 091539

B. GENEVA 01609

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark A Taplin; Reasons 1.4(b) an d (d).

1. (C) D/Pol chief delivered ref a demarche on July 3 to MFA Director for OSCE and Human Rights Affairs Brandusa Predescu. Predescu noted that the EU members were working from a common position to obtain the compromises necessary to keep the HRC process moving forward. She hoped the U.S. would continue to work in a positive and cooperative manner on the HRC issues, and asked for closer collaboration between not only U.S. and Romania but also between U.S. and the EU. Predescu said Romania shared the USG's disappointment over the Belarus and Cuban mandates (and pointed out that the rapporteur for the Belarus Country-Report was former Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Severin). Predescu remarked that Romania shared common interests with the U.S. on the functioning of the HRC, but noted that these were EU member states' issues as well. She emphasized that the Fifth Session results do not mean there is no need for the HRC to observe the situations in problem countries. She reiterated that the adapted package was "the best compromise that could be obtained in the given circumstances. We will have to live with them."

2. (C) Predescu said both the EU and Romania as current president of the HRC want to preserve the achievements made in the fifth session (UPR), and work on the basis of the achieved positive elements. She argued that the UPR has all the potential to continue to help "like-minded countries" to monitor where the human rights situation is the most serious. On Canada, Predescu said that Romania supported Canada on substance, but not procedurally. She claimed that the documents were under consensus rule silence until June 18, thus when Canada tried to raise its point on June 19, it was after adoption. (NOTE: Predescu's version of events vary from ref b's chronology; Post shared with Predescu the sequence outlined in the background paper. End note.) Predescu wanted to make sure the USG understood that "no one was happy with the outcome; no one got their own way on the package." She singled out the African and OIC groups as being helpful in moving the compromise package forward. She observed that "where we can find support, we need to do outreach." Her final thoughts on this topic were to secure the USG's constructive engagement in order to help the HRC to function before we start drawing conclusions on its effectiveness. Predescu noted that the EU would be conducting its own internal evaluations, and suggested the U.S. and EU hold human rights consultations and coordinate more closely their respective approaches.

3. (C) Comment: We believe that the GOR will not work outside the EU member state consensus -- especially in the area of human rights -- provided there is a consensus that does not impact negatively Romania's more immediate strategic interests (e.g. in the western Balkans and the Black Sea, as two examples). The GOR is eager to prove itself competent and professional across a broad spectrum of international forums -- but calculated to increase Romania's value and standing as a new member of the EU. End comment. TAUBMAN