ARGENTINA TO SEEK BALANCED RESOLUTION ON THE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002448 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PHUM PREL PTER AR LE IS SUBJECT: ARGENTINA TO SEEK BALANCED RESOLUTION ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHILDREN IN LEBANON REF: A) STATE 176793 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, Poloff delivered talking points and background paper to Manuel Fernandez Salorio, Minister in the Division of International Organizations in Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fernandez stated that the Argentine government (GOA) supports efforts to realize a lasting and definitive peace in the Middle East and is also committed to protecting the human rights of all children. He acknowledged that the Cuba-sponsored resolutions does not take into account Hezbollah's aggressive actions nor the suffering of Israeli children and civilians. ¶2. (SBU) However, the GOA believes that Israel's use of force was "excessive and disproportionate" and consequently voted for the UN Human Rights Council resolution on the grave situation of human rights in Lebanon caused by Israeli military operations, Fernandez explained. He added that the GOA would likely try to introduce language to ensure the resolution had a more "balanced" perspective. Fernandez declined to comment whether the GOA would vote against or abstain on the resolution, should those efforts fail, saying only that the GOA works by consensus. MATERA