SPAIN: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: CANDIDACY OF IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001080 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR AND IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2012 TAGS: KUNR PHUM PREL UNHRC SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: CANDIDACY OF IRAN REF: STATE 66050 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELLOR KATHLEEN FITZPATRICK for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 1.(C) Ambassador Aguirre reached Spanish Foreign Minister by phone the evening of April 27 (both are traveling outside of Spain) to convey our expectation that Spain will oppose an Iranian candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council. Moratinos, attending the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Sofia, told the Ambassador that Spain was "on board" with us and would follow the "EU position." (Note: We presume Moratinos means Spain will adhere to the EU statement issued before the vote to establish the new Council which declared that EU states would not vote for states with records of human rights violations, though he did not specify this with the Ambassador). ¶2. (C) Charge had also conveyed USG views to the chief of staff of the Spain's Deputy Foreign Minister (who is also traveling) and asked him to convey US points to the Foreign Minister and his Deputy, emphasizing our desire for Spain to support the US position given its strong human rights record and the importance of having a credible new UN Human Rights Council. Before the Ambassador's call to Moratinos, we also discussed the issue at the working level with the Spanish MFA's Director for Human Rights Affairs, Fernando Fernadez Arias. Arias said that while the political decision had not at that time been made, he said he strongly recommended that Spain vote against Iran and expressed his strong personal view that Iran would not get Spain's vote nor become a member of the Council. FITZPATRICK