UNCLAS PANAMA 001025

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
IO/SHA FOR SMEHRA
S/UNR FOR JGERAN
USUN FOR MZACK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL PM UNGA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY
SUBJECT: PANAMA UNCHR DEMARCHE: GOP LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S.
POSITION ON UNCHR INTERSESSIONAL WORKING GROUP IN GENEVA

REF: STATE 82967

(SBU) PolOff delivered Reftel talking points to MFA Human
Rights Director Janio Tunion and Deputy International
Organizations and Commissions Director Nubia Lezcano on May
5, stressing how the working group would undercut existing
mechanisms at New York UN headquarters. Tunion spoke with
PolOff on May 6. Speaking unofficially, Tunion said the GOP
was aware that such a working group "would probably
complicate things," when a process already exists for
discussing UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reform.
Tunion said unofficially that he opposes "excessive"
sub-commissions and working groups in a system that was
already "too big" to be effective, and added that senior MFA
officials agree. He said he would pass the talking points to
his superiors. Embassy will report any further developments
to Department.

WATT