Cablegate: French Response to Belarus Draft Resolution

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS PARIS 001713

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BO FR UNHRC PDEM EUN
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO BELARUS DRAFT RESOLUTION

REF: STATE 41971

Poloffs delivered reftel demarche to Francois Vandeville,
responsible for human rights in the MFA's United Nations and
International Organizations bureau, and Pierre Cochard,
DAS-equivalent for Russia and the former Soviet space, on
March 10. In a March 15 conversation, Vandeville
characterized the draft text as "good" and "strong." He said
that Luxembourg, in its EU Presidency position, would
consolidate all EU remarks, but noted that France would
recommend adding colleges and universities to the list of
entities against which harassment must cease in section 2(d).
France is also in favor of including a point against the
arbitrary detention of political prisoners. Finally,
Vandeville questioned the first sentence in paragraph 4. As
the appointment of a Special Rapporteur was decided last
year, the language, to his reading, seemed to indicate that
the U.S. was requesting some type of change. If this is not
the case, he recommends substituting "extend the mandate" for
"re-appoint."
Leach

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