US embassy cable - 05CAIRO4960

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KUNR, EG 
SUBJECT: EGYPT:  HUMAN RIGHTS REFORMS AT THE UN 
 
REF: A. STATE 119812 
 
     B. CAIRO 4780 (NOTAL) 
     C. STATE 114051 
 
Classified by Economic and Political Counselor John Desrocher 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  PolOff discussed ref A points June 29 with Mohamed 
Mounir of the MFA's Human Rights Department, who emphasized 
the need to reform "the human rights machinery" at the UN 
within the context of broader UN reforms.  The GOE did not 
necessarily see a need "to tear apart" current organizations 
like the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), however.  He said 
the non-aligned movement and the G-77 were still in the 
process of formulating a common position on human rights 
reforms and welcomed a broad discussion on options.  PolOff 
highlighted the need to keep an open mind in those 
discussions, taking into account the recommendations of the 
Secretary General and the potential benefits of redesigning 
 
SIPDIS 
the machinery into a more effective Human Rights Council. 
 
2.  (C)  Mounir did not believe that forming a new body was 
necessarily the way to address "the essence of the problems" 
facing human rights at the UN.  He questioned how UN member 
states could objectively identify "good countries and bad 
countries" in deciding who should sit on such a council.  The 
GOE was nonetheless open minded about upcoming discussions, 
according to Mounir. 
 
 
 
 
 
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CORBIN