GUATEMALA STILL NON-COMMITTAL ON UNHRC CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000932 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2013 TAGS: PHUM PREL CU GT UNCHR SUBJECT: GUATEMALA STILL NON-COMMITTAL ON UNHRC CUBA RESOLUTION REF: STATE 86002 Classified By: PolCouns David Lindwall for reason 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Edgar Gutierrez on April 3, and raised reftel talking points requesting GOG co-sponsorhip of a UNHRC resolution on Cuba. The Ambassador noted that, to avoid unnecessary controversy, the draft resolution presented by three Latin American countries did not mention the human rights situation in Cuba, but rather simply called on the Cuban Government to permit the visit of the UNHRC's Special Representative. The Ambassador said that, in view of the recent arrest by Cuban authorities of large numbers of dissidents and human rights workers, it would be unconscionable for the world not to stand up and call on the Cuban Government to permit the visit of the UNHRC's Special Representative. He appealed to Foreign Minister Gutierrez's own past as a human rights worker, saying that human rights activists in CUBA depended on the solidarity of their hemispheric counterparts, and not to support this resolution would be to abandon those seeking basic democratic rights in CUBA through peaceful means. ¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Gutierrez said that the GOG was aware of the arrest of large numbers of dissidents in Cuba. He said that Guatemalan-Cuban relations had strengthened in 2003, and that Guatemala hoped to use this improvement for "constructive engagement" with CUBA on a number of issues, including human rights. He said the GOG believes past UNHRC resolutions have been ineffective, and wants to consider options that might produce better results. The Ambassador replied that Cuban Government intransigence should not be used to justify abandonment of dissidents who were putting their lives on the line for their democratic beliefs, and pressed Gutierrez to give a more precise indication of how the GOG is coming out on this issue. Gutierrez took refuge in saying the GOG has not made a decision on how it will address the CUBA resolution at the UNHRC. ¶3. (C) PolOff delivered the demarche separately to Acting Head of Multilateral Affairs at the MFA Silvia Corado on April 3. Corado was similarly non-committal. ¶4. (C) Comment: The arrest of Cuban dissidents has embarrassed President Portillo and Foreign Minister Gutierrez, who (pressured by FRG leader Rios Montt) are inclined not to support the CUBA resolution this year -- largely out of pique with us over decertification and our perceived opposition to the Rios Montt presidential candidacy, and in part because of their personal sympathies with the Cuban revolution. We have built a case in the press and with local human rights NGO's for supporting the Cuban dissidents, and are using that to keep pressure on the GOG in the lead-up to the vote. We expect the Cubans will also be working hard to convince the GOG to support them -- Vice President Reyes was seen Sunday showing the Cuban Minister of Education around the colonial city of Antigua. Co-sponsorhip is a bridge too far, but a positive vote may not be out of range. HAMILTON