UNCLAS ASUNCION 001399

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PA UNHRC
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: DEMARCHE ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE AND
FOURTH COMMITTEE (ANTI-ISRAEL) RESOLUTIONS

REF: A. STATE 204646

B. ASUNCION 1314

C. STATE 188933


1. On 11/8, A/DCM discussed reftel (A) points with the MFA's
Director of International Organizations Julio Peralta
stressing the importance we attached to support of the
resolution on Iran. Peralta consulted with Paraguay's
Mission to the UN in New York and later advised of Paraguay's
intention to support -- consistent with its position from
prior years -- the country specific resolutions identified in
reftel.


2. On his own initiative, Peralta flagged discussions with
Paraguay's UN Mission reps in New York over the resolutions
(per reftel (B)) that target Israel. In view of a high-level
trip to Israel under consideration for the coming weeks,
Peralta was concerned Paraguay could come up for criticism
over its support for these resolutions. However, he
indicated Paraguay's UN Mission was reluctant to change
Paraguay's position from prior years. Separately, the MFA's
Under Secretary for Bilateral Affairs, Ceferino Valdez,
informed A/DCM that Paraguay would like for Israel to
consider reopening an Embassy in Paraguay. A/DCM assured
both Peralta and Valdez that it was not unlikely Israel would
raise Paraguay's vote on the UN resolutions with a visiting
Paraguayan delegation and urged Paraguay give consideration
to at least abstaining on these resolutions.
JOHNSON