C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000325
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE AJENSEN, FOR DRL/MLGA JNOYES, FOR IO/RHS
DROHN, AND FOR AF/S SHILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2017
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, ZI, EUN, RO
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE DEMARCHES: ROMANIA ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT
SERIOUSNESS OF SITUATION
REF: A. SECTSTATE 33357
B. SECSTATE 34009
Classified By: Polcouns Theodore Tanoue for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Human Rights Officer delivered reftel demarches on
3/19/07 to MFA Director for OSCE, COE, and Human Rights
Issues, Brandusa Predescu. Predescu was in agreement with the
USG's concern about the seriousness of the situation in
Zimbabwe and said she would work with her GOR colleagues to
issue a statement condemning the GOZ's violent acts against
its democratic opponents. Predescu added that the head of
GOR's delegation to the UN Human Rights Council had
criticized the GOZ's actions during a meeting of the council
last week but acknowlegded that this had not been an
"official" statement. While agreeing to some sort of HRC
action during the current session she specifically requested
that the USG side provide further information on concrete
measures where the GOR might be able to assist. She agreed to
instruct their delegation to coordinate closely with the U.S.
Delegation in Geneva on next steps. Finally, Predescu said
she would endeavor to get the GOR to contact the Africa Union
in urging them to issue a public statement expressing concern
for human rights violations in Zimbabwe.
2. (C) When asked for suggestions on how best to deal with
the situation in Zimbabwe Predescu told HumOff that the USG
should consider making more public statements and using the
press in Geneva (since there were so many media
representatives there) to get the message out about the
seriousness of Zimbabwe's situation. She also advocated for
involving the current Chairperson of the HRC to make a public
statement condemning Zimbabawe's actions.
TAUBMAN