VENEZUELA: IRISH CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001609 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO EUR AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2014 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: IRISH CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION REF: STATE 223273 Classified By: POL/ECON Counselor Mary Daly, Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Emboffs, drawing on reftel points, spoke on October 22 to First Secretary Sean O'Regan, Deputy Director for Human Rights at the DFA and, separately, to Margaret Stanley, desk officer for the Americas. Stanley said that the EU had discussed Venezuela at the experts level this week, without yet deciding how to move forward. The Irish, for their part, were unaware of the developments in Venezuela and, following our meetings, asked their embassy in Mexico to gather more information (they have no embassy in Venezuela). The Irish tend to take a strong stand on human rights and would likely support an EU statement; since they have no embassy in Venezuela, they would be less likely to issue a separate national statement. Stanley and O'Regan will inform embassy as Irish and EU positions develop. KENNY