SPANISH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON CHR 60 RESOLUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001079 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014 TAGS: PHUM CH CU SP UNHRC SUBJECT: SPANISH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON CHR 60 RESOLUTIONS ON CHINA AND CUBA REF: A. STATE 64048 ¶B. MADRID 998 ¶C. MADRID 822 Classified By: Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor, for Reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolCouns and Poloff met with Augustin Nunez, MFA Director General for UN Affairs (A/S equivalent) on March 26 to follow up on our initial March 23 approach to senior MFA officials regarding the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Cuba and China resolutions (reftels A and B). We stressed our desire for Spain, though not a CHR member, to help garner support for the upcoming resolutions among the EU and to co-sponsor the resolutions. Nunez took the opportunity to recall that Spain had been a CHR candidate previously, but withdrew so the US could regain its seat, and that Spain would like to get back on the Commission. (Note: this has been a recurring theme with the Spanish, as post has reported previously (reftel C). In a subsequent lunch meeting on March 29, Inigo de Palacio, Director of the UN Affairs Office under Nunez in the MFA, stressed to Poloff Spain's desire for USG assistance in lobbying for Spain's candidacy for the CHR. De Palacio asked if Washington could inform the MFA or Spain's UN representation if the USG intended to provide this assistance to the Spanish candidacy. End Note) ¶2. (C) Nunez stressed first that under the current caretaker government, no important decisions could be made without consultation with the incoming Socialist government, and that as yet there were no interlocutors selected by the incoming government to consult with on these issues. That said, he noted that the EU members of the CHR likely would vote for the Cuba resolution; the question for Spain was whether to co-sponsor. Nunez said that if the majority of EU countries decided to co-sponsor, Spain would likely go along. He also added that EU policy opposes no-action motions, and that the policy would remain in place for both the Cuba and China resolutions. ¶3. (C) On China, Nunez said that unlike the USG, the EU sees the EU-China Human rights dialogue as the more effective means to deal with China on human rights concerns, and believes the on-going dialogue mitigates the need for a resolution. Spain would not take an active role on this issue, he said. Nunez stated that if the resolution is put to a vote, EU members would likely abstain or vote in favor. ¶4. (C) On China accepting a visit by the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nunez said that the Dutch had indicated that the Chinese had finally accepted a visit, though with no date certain. He took the opportunity to express concern about Special Rapporteur Van Boven's report on Spain, which is very unfavorable toward Spain regarding treatment of ETA prisoners (reftel C). Nunez said Van Boven was operating off of outmoded concepts, viewing modern Spain as if it were Spain under Franco or Central America 20 years ago. ARGYROS