US embassy cable - 05ROME2545

UNCLAS ROME 002545 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, IT, UNGA, UNHCR-1, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: ITALY GENERALLY SUPPORTS USG PROPOSAL ON NEW UN 
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 
 
REF: STATE 140192 
 
1. (SBU) Poloff delivered Reftel demarche on July 29 to 
Minister Rosa Anna Coniglio, head of the MFA's Human Rights 
Office.  Min. Coniglio is new to her job, but provided 
preliminary thoughts on the Italian position based on her 
previous human rights background (she previously worked for 
MFA U/S for Asia and Human Rights, Margherita Boniver). 
Coniglio stated that Italy's position coincides "almost 
completely" with the US proposal, highlighting the issue of 
membership in the new council as perhaps one area where more 
discussion is necessary.  She agreed "totally" with the 
balance of the talking points. 
 
2. (SBU) Coniglio noted that Italy favors a larger council 
more in line with Pres. Ping's vision of between 30-50 
members.  In her view, the size of the new council should 
approximate the size of the current UN Human Rights 
Commission.  In addition, Italy would like to maintain a 
similar regional group "proportionality." 
 
3. (SBU) Coniglio addressed the "conditions" for membership 
in the points, saying that Italy still had not developed 
clear ideas on the topic.  Italy agrees that some 
qualifications are necessary to avoid the problems the 
current Commission experienced in the past and to improve the 
effectiveness of a new council.  Italy, in principle, would 
favor some mechanism that would allow potential members to 
demonstrate "either before or after"  membership a genuine 
commitment to human rights.  She was not certain about how 
this process could be implemented, but said that Italy will 
discuss the details in the coming weeks with its EU 
colleagues and counterparts at the UN in New York. 
KILNER 
 
 
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 2005ROME02545 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED