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issue was a long-term Communist with outdated, ideological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