DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS

UNCLAS MEXICO 005935 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN MX SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES REF: SECSTATE 169257 ¶1. (SBU) On October 16, Poloff led the tripartite demarche, with political officers from the Embassies of Australia and New Zealand, to deliver reftel talking points to Director General of Human Rights and Democracy Rodrigo Labardini and Director of International Policy for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Minority Groups Mariana Salazar. Labardini responded by stating that the declaration is non-binding and that the language of the text is tight enough to quell fears of any misinterpretation concerning issues of self-determination and control of natural resources. He dismissed our concern that the declaration's language could provide ammunition to separatist groups, asserting out that secessionist groups would act regardless of the text's legal language. Labardini expressed that the time is right for passing the declaration, the substantive achievement of the declaration is optimal, and the jeopardy of indefinitely delaying the vote after 11 years of negotiation is too high. The general language of the text, he continued, could be applied to the particular circumstances of signatory countries, while reconciling domestic laws and practices with international ones. ¶2. (SBU) While Salazar said that opening discussion to change the text could jeopardize the future of the declaration, Labardini added that it could shake the reputation of the HRC itself. Labardini stressed that approval of the declaration is an important precedent for the new Human Rights Council (HRC),currently chaired by Mexican representative Luis Alfonso de Alba, to mark an achievement of moral substance and to secure the HRC as the definitive international body on human rights. He solicited the support of our governments to strengthen and bolster the authority and standing of the HRC. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity GARZA