PARAGUAY: DEMARCHE ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE AND

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