US embassy cable - 05AMMAN5104

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005104 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KUNR, UNCHR-1 
SUBJECT: REFORMING THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: JORDAN 
 
REF: STATE 114051 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
1. (C) Poloff met with Ambassador Ziad Majali, head of the 
human rights directorate of the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, 
on June 23 to discuss USG priorities for reforming the UN 
Human Rights Commission (reftel). Majali said that Jordan is 
very supportive of efforts to reform the UN, especially with 
regard to the Commission on Human Rights. His reaction to the 
USG priorities for a new Human Rights Council (HRC) was 
positive, noting that they were a good foundation on which to 
begin meaningful dialogue. He appreciated that there was 
language limiting the mandate of the HRC, such as stating 
that the body should not be "another Security Council" 
replete with economic and military sanctions for 
non-compliers. He said that the challenge remains, however, 
to convince other nations that this will be the case. Majali 
said that Jordan will engage other Arab League states to 
offer support for UN reform, and will encourage open minded 
discussions at the upcoming Organization of the Islamic 
Conference meeting in Yemen. 
 
2. (C) Majali cautioned that in his personal view, some of 
the USG reform "priorities for the Commission on Human 
Rights" will be difficult to achieve. For example, he noted 
that while the proposal calls for membership in the HRC to be 
exclusive of countries subject to investigations of abuses, 
it also calls for seats to be allocated regionally, five of 
which would go to the Africa Group. Majali remarked that it 
would be difficult to find five countries in this group that 
would meet the requirements for membership on the council. He 
said that he is optimistic that some compromise will be met 
that ensures positive reform and offers assurances to the 
South. Although Majali hoped that a consensus could be 
reached in the three months from now until the issue comes to 
a head in New York in September, he was concerned that this 
would not be enough time. He added that Security Council 
reform would dominate all reform discussions, leaving little 
room for an agreement on the HRC. 
HALE