ITALY WILL GET OUT THE VOTE IN ECOSOC ON CHR CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003672

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2007
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY WILL GET OUT THE VOTE IN ECOSOC ON CHR CUBA
RESOLUTION

REF: SECSTATE 139472

CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) ON JULY 23, IN SEPARATE MEETINGS AT THE MFA, POLOFF
PRESENTED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO NICOLO' GORETTI DE FLAMINI AND
EMANUELE PIGNATELLI, RESPECTIVELY OFFICE DIRECTORS FOR
CENTRAL AMERICA AND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. PIGNATELLI CONFIRMED
THE GOI'S INTENTION TO VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION AGAIN AND TO
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LOBBY OTHERS TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL. THE GOI'S LEADERSHIP
WOULD BE IMPORTANT, PIGNATELLI IMPLIED, SINCE IT WAS
REPRESENTING THE EU PRESIDENCY DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF DENMARK
FROM ECOSOC.


2. (C) PIGNATELLI CONTINUED THAT THE GOI PREFERED
"RECIPROCAL ENCOURAGEMENT" OF, NOT CONFRONTATION WITH, STATES
WITH GOVERNANCE SHORTCOMINGS. THE GOC HAD "MADE SOME
IMPROVEMENTS BUT NEEDS TO GO FURTHER." PIGNATELLI CITED
BETTER CONDITIONS OF DETENTION AS AN EXAMPLE. (HOWEVER,
GORETTI AGREED WITH THE DEMARCHE THAT THE NUMBER OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS HAS INCREASED AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAS
DETERIORATED.)


3. (C) PIGNATELLI EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT PROCEDURAL
ISSUES AT ECOSOC. HE ASKED WHETHER THE USG WOULD CALL FOR A
VOTE ON THE SEPARATE RESOLUTION ON RACISM. HE HOPED THAT WE
WOULD DO SO, STATING THAT THE GOI WAS AS CONCERNED BY THE
RACISM RESOLUTION AS THE USG WAS BY THE CUBA ONE. ASKED WHY
THE GOI PREFERRED THAT WE TAKE THE LEAD ON THE RACISM
RESOLUTION, PIGNATELLI ASSERTED THAT WE HAD CALLED FOR THE
VOTE IN THE UNCHR, SO IT WAS ONLY LOGICAL THAT WE SHOULD DO
SO AGAIN. HE ALSO ASKED WHETHER THE USG WOULD CALL FOR A
VOTE ON THE CUBA RESOLUTION, IF FOR ANY REASON PERU DID NOT
DO SO. POLOFF REPLIED THAT SHE HAD NO INFORMATION ON THIS
BUT UNDERSCORED THAT THE USG WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE
PASSAGE OF THE CUBA RESOLUTION.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME03672 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL