US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1470

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001470 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, EZ, UN 
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: CZECHS SEEK GUIDANCE ON THEIR 
CANDIDACY FOR UN POSITIONS 
 
 
1. (U)  Action request at paragraph 4. 
 
2.  (U)  The Czechs have announced their candidacy for two UN 
positions: (1) non-permanent member of the UN Security 
Council (UNSC) for a two-year term beginning in 2008, and (2) 
a seat on the Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) for a 
three-year term.  The election for the UNSC position will 
take place in 2007, and Czech competition includes Croatia 
and Georgia.  The election for the UNCHR seat will take place 
at the ECOSOC meeting in April 2006.  The four candidates for 
the two UNCHR seats are: the Czech Republic, Russia, 
Lithuania, and Poland. 
 
3.  (SBU)  During a recent meeting with Poloff, MFA UN 
Department staff asked for the USG,s candid assessment of 
the Czech Republic's candidacy for the two positions.  If the 
USG low ranks the Czechs for one position, the Czechs may 
refocus their efforts and resources on the other position. 
The Czechs have also asked for USG support for these 
candidacies, although they acknowledged the USG may not be in 
a position to lend its support to only one candidate. 
 
4.  (SBU)  Comment.  Post would appreciate an unvarnished 
assessment that we can share with the Czechs.  We note that 
in terms of the UNCHR seat, the Czechs have a laudable record 
of promoting human rights and democracy in countries of 
concern to the USG, including Belarus and Cuba.  In addition, 
the Czechs share the USG position that membership in UNCHR 
should be limited to countries with good human rights records 
and would promote that position if elected to the UNCHR. 
CABANISS