Cablegate: Finland Noncommital On U.S. Candidate for Un Human
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHHE #0814 2281158
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161158Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2315
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0371
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0050
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000814
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2016
TAGS: FI PHUM US
SUBJECT: FINLAND NONCOMMITAL ON U.S. CANDIDATE FOR UN HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMITTEE
REF: STATE 130666
Classified By: Polchief Gregory Thome for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
(C) MFA Human Rights Unit Director Johanna Suurpaa
acknowledged Professor Wedgwood's high qualifications for the
post and her outstanding performance during her first term on
the UN Human Rights Committee when emboff discussed reftel
information with her August 15. Noting that Finland had
backed Prof. Wedgwood's initial election to the committee,
Suurpaa was "not pessimistic" that Finland would again vote
for the U.S. candidate, but could not make any commitments.
Suurpaa explained that since the candidate list often changes
in the days before the election, Helsinki would not make its
choice from among the many well-qualified candidates until
just before the election on September 7.
WARE