PARAGUAY ON UN REFORM

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000802 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KUNR AORC PA UNSC SUBJECT: PARAGUAY ON UN REFORM REF: A. STATE 111657 ¶B. STATE 111637 ¶C. STATE 114051 ¶1. On June 22, Charge met with Vice Minister of Foreign Relations, Ambassador Jose Martinez Lezcano to discuss UN Reform. Ambassador Martinez remarked that Paraguay strongly supports UN reform and agrees that reforms must go far beyond expanding the Security Council. Responding to reftel points, he said the GOP supports broad initiatives on development, the democracy fund, and administrative reform. Counterterrorism Convention -------------- ¶2. Martinez agreed with the USG on the need for a comprehensive convention on terrorism. He noted that the GOP is committed to working to combat terrorism as exhibited by the adoption of all of the outstanding protocols against terrorism last December. He mentioned that GOP officials are working within an interministerial committee on counterterrorism legislation still needed to comply with UNSC requirement. Commission on Human Rights -------------- ¶3. Martinez said Paraguay agrees with the USG diagnosis of what is wrong with the Human Rights Commission. He mentioned that Paraguay would align itself with Mercosur, in supporting specific remedies for this problem, however, adding that Mercosur's analysis of this issue is just beginning. He expressed some concern about Brazil's decision making on human rights, noting that the Lula appointee working the issue was a long-term Communist with outdated, ideological approaches. Security Council Reform -------------- ¶4. Ambassador Martinez reiterated several points MFA officials previously passed as a non-paper on Security Council Reform including the following: -- in its current form, equalized representation for Latin America and other continents is impossible; -- UNSC should be enlarged with addition of greater number of permanent and non permanent members evenly distributed geographically, including more Latin American countries, Germany and Japan; -- Paraguay supports Brazil's bid for permanent Security Council seat; -- agreement should be reached by consensus prior to the High-level meetings in September 2005. KEANE