GUATEMALA ON CUBA UNCHR RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000355 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPA, DRL, AND IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2014 TAGS: PREL KDEM CU GT CHR SUBJECT: GUATEMALA ON CUBA UNCHR RESOLUTION REF: A. STATE 20401 ¶B. GUATEMALA 317 Classified By: Poloff Robert E. Copley for reason 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador Carla Rodriguez, Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, called a meeting with Poloffs on February 11 to discuss the CUBA Resolution at the 60th CHR. This is the first time in our collective memory that the GOG has reached out to us on the Cuba resolution. Rodriguez wanted to know if other countries in the region, mentioning Costa Rica and Peru specifically, had made decisions about sponsoring the resolution. We shared our understanding that numerous countries were considering sponsorship, and urged the GOG to cosponsor. Rodriguez implied that being able to place Guatemala in the middle of a broader regional consensus on the CUBA resolution would make it easier for the GOG to sell a favorable decision on cosponsorhip to its domestic critics. ¶2. (C) A/S Noriega discussed the issue at the highest levels of the GOG during his February 3-5 visit (ref B). As a result, President Berger committed to "do the right thing." Rodriguez stressed that no policy decisions have been made yet and repeated her appeal for information on the decisions of regional neighbors. PolCouns reminded Rodriguez that the resolution would be more effective coming from Latin America, and that the U.S. and others are prepared to use all of our influence to lobby on behalf of the resolution. ¶3. (C) Turning to our non-paper (reftel),which we had relayed to Rodriguez in advance of A/S Noriega's visit, Rodriguez pointed out that the Commission had last year rejected Costa Rica's amendment which called attention to the plight of the 75 detained activists. The problem with the Commission is its composition, Rodriguez said, adding that supporters of the resolution last year had ultimately decided that it would be counterproductive to insist on an strong (read accurate) resolution against CUBA that would fail, allowing CUBA to claim victory. ¶4. (C) Comment and action request: The MFA appears to have instructions from the President to fulfill his commitment to "do the right thing" on the CUBA resolution, and is looking for any cover they can provide to respond to the inevitable critics of the decision, including some in the government. As cosponsors, especially within the region, begin to line up, please advise what information we can share with the GOG to bolster its case for cosponsorship. WHARTON