ARGENTINA TO SUPPORT UNESCO HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001477 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO FOR KELLY SIEKMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNESCO AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA TO SUPPORT UNESCO HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE RESOLUTION REF: A. SECSTATE 99971 ¶B. 7/24/07 SIEKMAN-GOMEZ E-MAIL ¶1. On July 24, poloff delievered ref A points to MFA Director for Human Rights Federico Villegas Beltran, who also serves as the MFA's focal point for Holocaust issues. Villegas Beltran stated that Argentina will support, but not co-sponsor the UNESCO Holocaust resolution. He explained that given that Argentina is not a member of UNESCO's Executive Council, the GOA must carefully consider which resolution it should sponsor and this takes time. He added that Argentina's Mission has instruction to request the microphone to publicly express support for the resolution. ¶2. Per ref B, poloff followed-up with Third Secretary Alexis Am of the MFA's Human Rights Office and informed him that the Department will be running this resolution at the General Conference rather than the Executive Board, meaning that there is more time for countries to consider co-sponsorship. Am indicated that this may give the GOA more time to consider co-sponsorship; however, the MFA would have to review the issue carefully before it makes any commitment beyond supporting the resolution. WAYNE