GUATEMALA WILL OPPOSE SPECIAL SITTING ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000803 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2013 TAGS: PHUM PREL IZ GT UNHCR SUBJECT: GUATEMALA WILL OPPOSE SPECIAL SITTING ON IRAQ REF: GENEVA 979 Classified By: PolCouns David Lindwall for reason 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) DCM McFarland called Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Perez on March 26 to reconfirm the GOG's commitment of March 25 to vote against a special sitting on Iraq at the 59th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. DCM noted that the Guatemalan Mission in Geneva had informed our mission that they did not have instructions on this vote. Perez said he had personally called their Ambassador in Geneva on March 26 to isntruct him to support the U.S. position. Perez said he had reconfirmed this approach with Foreign Minister Gutierrez. ¶2. (C) PolCouns carried out a parallel demarche on MFA Multilateral Affairs Director Giovanni Castillo on March 26. Castillo said that he would call the Guatemalan Mission in Geneva to ensure that they have Perez's instructions to oppose a special sitting on Iraq. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: We suggest the US Mission in Geneva confirm with the Guatemalan Mission that they do in fact have such instructions. HAMILTON