Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05QUITO515
2005-03-04 16:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Quito
Cable title:  

GOE SUPPORTS UNGA ANTI-CLONING RESOLUTION

Tags:  TBIO EC 
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UNCLAS QUITO 000515 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EC
SUBJECT: GOE SUPPORTS UNGA ANTI-CLONING RESOLUTION

REF: SECSTATE 33944

UNCLAS QUITO 000515

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EC
SUBJECT: GOE SUPPORTS UNGA ANTI-CLONING RESOLUTION

REF: SECSTATE 33944


1. (U) In response to Reftel, the Embassy March 2
transmitted anti-human cloning points and draft UNGA
resolution to the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry's Multilateral
Affairs subsecretariat and the Vatican Embassy. In a
follow-up telcon March 3, MFA Director General for Human
Rights Carmen Larrea told Poloff that Ecuador's constitution
(Article 23, Section 2) prohibited the improper application
and use of human genetic material. "Improper" was the key
word, Larrea emphasized. Ecuadorian experts believed that no
convincing evidence currently existed to prove that human
cloning offered therapeutic benefits, making support for
ongoing experimentation improper. On those grounds, Ecuador
had voted for the UN Sixth Committee's Declaration Against
Human Cloning, and would support the upcoming anti-cloning
UNGA resolution without amendments.


2. (SBU) Holy See Charge d'Affaires Mark Miles told Poloff
March 3 that the Vatican was fully energized in support of
the UNGA resolution. The newly-named Ecuadorian nuncio, in
Rome for consultations, had telephoned Miles earlier that
day, urging him to seek an immediate audience with Foreign
Minister Patricio Zuquilanda. As Zuquilanda and Deputy FM
Edwin Johnson were unavailable, Miles instead called on the
MFA's Number 3, Subsecretary for Bilateral Affairs Roberto
Betancourt. Betancourt's message tracked closely with
Larrea's. He informed the Vatican envoy that Ecuador
supported the UNGA resolution as-is; the MFA would issue
voting instructions to its UN mission March 4.
KENNEY