BRAZIL POSITIONS ON CUBA, CHINA, AND OTHER CHR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000755

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2014
TAGS: PHUM CH CUBA'>CU PREL BR UNHRC TIP
SUBJECT: BRAZIL POSITIONS ON CUBA, CHINA, AND OTHER CHR
DEMARCHES

REF: A. STATE 64048

B. STATE 44603

C. STATE 41252

D. BRASILIA 676

E. BRASILIA 616

F. STATE 65652

Classified By: Poloff David G. Mosby for reasons 1.5 B/D.


1. (C) Summary: According to the head of the Brazilian
Foreign Ministry's Human Rights Division, Brazil will abstain
on any CUBA or China resolutions and on a Chinese "no-action"
motion. (Note: Ambassador will raise the CUBA and China
resolutions at a more senior level again March 29. End
note.) Brazil may support a resolution on Turkmenistan.
Brazil will support resolutions on North Korea, and will wait
to study the proposed text on Iran before deciding. The GOB
condemns the Israeli execution of Hamas' leader and considers
it an obstacle to peace. Brazil is more supportive than the
USG of several proposed resolutions regarding economic,
social, and cultural rights and the links between
development, democracy, and human rights. The GOB will wait
to see the proposed texts for Iraq and Zimbabwe before
deciding. End summary.


2. (C) On March 24, Poloff met with Andre Saboia, head of
the Foreign Ministry's (MRE) Human Rights Division, to
deliver ref A talking points, on the CUBA and China
resolutions (The GOB will abstain in both cases. See
paragraphs 3 and 4.),and to discuss USG and GOB priorities
and cooperation with the GRULAC during the 60th session of
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR) (refs B
and C). Poloff emphasized to Saboia the USG's interest in
cooperating with GRULAC countries during this session of the
CHR.

(Note: Ambassador will again raise the CUBA and China
resolutions March 29 with MRE Assistant Secretary for
International Organization Affairs. Ambassador raised the
points previously with Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Vera Pedrosa on March 19 and was told Brazil would abstain
(ref D). On March 12 Poloff had provided the MRE's Assistant
Secretary for Human and Social Themes Department with talking

SIPDIS
points about USG CHR priorities and cooperation with the
GRULAC drawn from refs B and C (ref E). In addition, on
March 26, Poloff provided the MRE's UN Division with copies
of the CHR talking points and provided that office and the
Human Rights Division the revised text on the China
resolution (ref F). End note.

Brazil Says It Will Abstain on CUBA and China
--------------


3. (C) Saboia reiterated that GOB policy is not to support
country-specific resolutions, with few exceptions. Saboia
said Brazil will maintain its traditional position of
abstention on any CUBA resolution. While recognizing human
rights problems in CUBA, the GOB prefers to maintain a
bilateral dialogue with Castro's regime, he said. He argued
that President Lula's good relationship with Castro places
the GOB in a position to have a quiet, but positive impact on
the human rights situation in CUBA.


4. (C) While conceding that the GOB's bilateral dialogue on
human rights with China "is not very profound," Saboia said
it is unlikely the GOB will support a resolution condemning
the human rights situation in China. Moreover, Brazil will
likely abstain on a no-action motion, as it has traditionally
done in the past. (Comment: Given that Brazilian Foreign
Minister Celso Amorim recently visited China and floated the
idea of a free trade agreement, in addition to other trade
initiatives, the probability of the GOB changing its
traditional position of abstention seems low. End comment.)

Turkmenistan
--------------


5. (C) Saboia noted that during Third Committee meetings in
the UN General Assembly (UNGA) the resolution condemning
human rights violations in Turkmenistan had passed with wide
support, though not Brazil's. As a result, the GOB is
considering supporting a resolution in the CHR, he said.
According to him, the GOB has received useful information
about the deterioration of the human rights situation in
Turkmenistan from Great Britain and is now studying the
matter. While not willing to provide an official response,
Saboia said the GOB will likely support a "balanced"
resolution.

Israel
--------------


6. (C) Saboia pointed out to poloff that the assassination
of the head of Hamas was condemned by the GOB and said it,
"complicates an already fragile situation and makes it very
difficult for the peace process to move forward." While
saying the GOB will wait to see any text regarding the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he made it clear that Brazil
believes Israeli government's policies of targeted
assassinations, in addition to the ongoing construction of
the Israeli defense barrier, are the primary obstacles to the
peace process.

North Korea and Iran
--------------


7. (C) Saboia said Brazil will support a resolution on North
Korea. The GOB has received "good information on the
situation in North Korea from China," according to him.
There is a possibility Brazil might support an Iran
resolution, but the GOB will wait to see a text on Iran
before making a determination. Saboia stressed that Brazil's
support for an Iran resolution -- in the Third Committee
during the UNGA last year -- should not be interpreted as
meaning Brazil will automatically support one during the CHR.


Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and Democracy
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Concerning economic, social, and cultural rights,
Saboia said the GOB believes them to be as important as
political and civil rights. Therefore, the USG and the GOB
may not be in complete agreement on some resolutions in this
area. Brazil will likely support the resolutions "Promotion
of a Democratic and Equitable International Order" and
"Strengthening of Popular Participation," he said. Saboia
was unable to respond to questions about the GOB's position
on resolutions for Iraq and Zimbabwe, Romania's resolution on
the Consolidation of Democracy, and Australia's resolution on
Human Rights and Good Governance.


9. (C) Comment: Brazil's likely support for the Turkmenistan
and North Korea country resolutions is considered exceptional
by the MRE, the result of a broad consensus in the CHR, and
what the GOB considers to be good, credible information it
has received from Great Britain and China respectively.
These exceptions demonstrate that the GOB can be swayed from
its traditional position of non-support for country-specific
resolutions, when a broad consensus among other CHR countries
can be reached. End comment.
HRINAK