GUATEMALA LIKELY TO ABSTAIN OR OPPOSE UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001112 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2014 TAGS: PREL KPAL GT UNGA SUBJECT: GUATEMALA LIKELY TO ABSTAIN OR OPPOSE UNGA PALESTINIAN RESOLUTION REF: STATE 99626 Classified By: Acting PolCouns Erik Hall. Reason 1.5 (b&d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador raised the Palestinian resolution with Foreign Minister Briz on May 5, urging Guatemala to oppose the UNGA resolution on Palestine. Briz said it was the first he had heard of the issue, and asked his staff to "look into it." PolOff also delivered the demarche to Carla Rodriguez, Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, who said no decision had yet been taken, but speculated that Guatemala might oppose the resolution but if not, would certainly abstain. ¶2. (C) According to Rodriguez, the GOG will be sensitive to the positions of other countries in Central America, Latin America and Europe on this issue. Initial indications of the positions of other countries on the resolution were "not encouraging," she said. Costa Rica plans to vote in favor, Salvador and Nicaragua plan to be absent, Honduras and the Dominican Republic plan to abstain or be absent from the session. Rodriguez said she was not aware of the positions of PANAMA or Belize. Brazil, Mexico and Argentina will vote in favor or abstain. The Europeans are divided between abstaining and opposing. HAMILTON