CHILE TO CONSIDER VOCAL SUPPORT FOR THIRD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 002351 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PRM/MCE, WHA/PPC, WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015 TAGS: AORC ICRC PHUM PREF PREL IS SZ CI SUBJECT: CHILE TO CONSIDER VOCAL SUPPORT FOR THIRD ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL REF: A. STATE 206954 ¶B. SANTIAGO 01410 ¶C. SANTIAGO 1347 Classified By: Ambassador Craig Kelly. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (U) The Ambassador called on Foreign Ministry Director General for External Affairs Carlos Portales (the number three) on November 16, in part to deliver Ref A demarche seeking Chile's vocal support for the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention. The Ambassador expressed appreciation for Chile's past support and asked the GOC to be more vocal in its backing of the Protocol. He noted that Chile's large Palestinian-descent population would give Chilean backing even more meaning. ¶2. (C) MFA Director for Multilateral Affairs Pedro Oyarce, who was also at the meeting, noted Chile officially had informed the Swiss of its support for the Protocol and the diplomatic conference on December 5-6. Oyarce said the GOC could possibly be more vocal in its support. Before doing so, however, the MFA needed to consult with the Chilean Mission in Geneva to gauge the Swiss government's reaction if Chile were to adopt such a position. "If we adopt a more vocal stance and it is against the wishes of the Swiss, it could be counterproductive," Oyarce said. Portales agreed and said the MFA would ask its Mission in Geneva for an assessment. KELLY