UNCLAS KINGSTON 000462

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: JM PHUM CU MX CHR
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CONCERN OVER MEXICO HUMAN
RIGHTS INITIATIVE

REF: SECSTATE 22969


1. (SBU) On February 16, Poloff called Sheila
Sealy-Monteith, Director, International Organizations
Department (IOD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign
Trade (MFAFT), to deliver reftel talking points.
Sealy-Monteith accepted the information and then responded at
lenghth. First, she asked directly what the U.S. position on
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) was.
She questioned whether the United States was really happy
with the operation of the commission, which she is aware has
been criticized more than once recently, including last year
in the Third Committee. She pointed out that the UNCHR is a
body of limited representation, of which Jamaica has not been
a member. She added that the GOJ does, however, maintain a
general interest in the commission, especially insofar as its
decisions are discussed in the General Assembly, and in
particular during the 2003 visit to Jamaica of the UNHCR's
Special Rapporteur.


2. (SBU) With respect to Cuba, Sealy-Monteith questioned
whether country-specific resolutions are balanced, adding
that there seems to be a bias in the commission, since "we
spend year after year looking at the same countries," while
"other countries are not held culpable."

TIGHE