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