SPAIN'S REACTION TO US OPPOSITION TO ITS CANDIDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002607

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S REACTION TO US OPPOSITION TO ITS CANDIDATE
FOR UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR

REF: SECSTATE 127795

Classified By: DCM J. Robert Manzanares for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

(C) POLOFF delivered reftel talking points to Deputy Director
General for the United Nations Juan Manuel Gonzalez de
Linares. Gonzalez de Linares was surprised at the strength of
US opposition to Castresana's candidacy, saying the Spanish
mission to the UN in Geneva had indicated that the US was
more indifferent than opposed. POLOFF replied that the reason
for the demarche was to ensure that US policy on this issue
was clear. He then defended Castresana's abilities to poloff;
nonetheless, he seemed aware of the source of contention, and
did not pursue his argument in any depth. Gonzalez de Linares
did not commit to withdrawing GOS support for Castresana. He
read over the information on Eric Schwartz, and said he would
pass all talking points to his colleague in the MFA's Human
Rights bureau.
AGUIRRE