GODR WILL VOTE WITH USG ON CUBA/GUANTANAMO BAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002440

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR FOR MCISAAC AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2009
TAGS: PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: GODR WILL VOTE WITH USG ON CUBA/GUANTANAMO BAY
RESOLUTION IN UNCHR

REF: A. STATE 87283

B. STATE 85231

C. SANTO DOMINGO 02386

D. SANTO DOMINGO 02318

Classified By: Charge Lisa B. Kubiske, reason 1.4(d).


1. SUMMARY. (C) President Mejia told the Ambassador on
April 20, that the GODR would vote with the USG against the
UNCHR Cuban sponsored resolution condemning U.S. detainee
policy at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. If the German sponsored
procedural motion to adjourn the Cuba/Guantanamo Bay
resolution is made, the GODR will vote for the procedural
motion to adjourn. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Charge delivered reftel A and B talking points to
GODR Foreign Minister Francisco Guerrero Prats on April 20th.
Charge thanked Foreign Minister Guerrero Prats for the GODR
vote on April 15, condemning human rights abuses in Cuba and
asked for the GODR "no" vote on the resolution Cuba has
tabled condemning the U.S. detainee policy for Guantanamo
Bay. Foreign Minster Prats said he would confer with the
GODR delegation in Geneva, study the resolution and take the
issue to President Mejia for a final decision.


3. (C) In anticipation of Foreign Minister Prats' call on
President Mejia, the Ambassador called the President on April
20 (from Washington, where the Ambassador is attending
consultations). President Mejia told the Ambassador that the
GODR would vote with the USG against the Cuba/Guantanamo Bay
resolution or for the German procedural motion to adjourn the
Cuba/Guantanamo Bay resolution.


4. (C) During Charge's conversation with Foreign Minister
Prats, he told her that the passage of last week's resolution
condemning human rights abuses in Cuba did not deprive Cuba
of its sovereignty and that the Cubans, "always overreact."
Foreign Minister Prats told the Charge that he would speak
with the GODR delegation in Geneva about the Cuba/Guantanamo
Bay resolution and then take the matter to President Mejia.


5. (C) COMMENT. The decision of President Mejia to
instruct the GODR to vote with the U.S. on this important
issue is another example of the very close collaboration
between our two governments. To date there has been no
public backlash based on the GODR's vote for the April 15th
resolution condemning Cuba for human rights abuses,
nevertheless, President Mejia believes the decision to stick
with the USG on this issue will cost him politically (reftel
D). If so, the backlash would come after the Cuba/Guantanamo
Bay vote on April 21. END COMMENT.
KUBISKE