CHR 60 - DEMARCHE REQUESTS FOR RESOLUTIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000998 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2014 TAGS: PHUM CH CU SP UNHRC SUBJECT: CHR 60 - DEMARCHE REQUESTS FOR RESOLUTIONS ON CHINA AND CUBA REF: STATE 62815 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Political Counselor conveyed reftel points March 23 to Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister Ramon Gil-Casares, stressing the importance of passage of these resolutions for the USG. We also passed our points to MFA's Human Rights and International Organizations Departments. Juan Manuel Cabrera, MFA Human Rights Office Director, stated that Spain would study our points and would coordinate their response within a common EU policy. We are working to schedule a follow-up discussion with Gil-Casares or MFA Director General for International Organizations as soon as possible after the March 24 State Funerals for the victims of the March 11 terrorist attacks. Gil-Casares' chief of staff noted in advance, however, that the current caretaker government would have little room to maneuver on this or any other international issues until the new Spanish government is in place in late April. ARGYROS