OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 005982 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2027 TAGS: PREL UNGA IS MX SUBJECT: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS REF: STATE 159386 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Charles V. Barclay. Reason : 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (SBU) The Deputy Political Counselor met with Julian Juarez, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director of its United Nations office, November 28 to urge Mexico reconsider its long-standing support for a long list of UN resolutions on the Middle East that undermine UN credibility and do little to advance peace. A former member of Mexico's Mission to the UN, Juarez expressed appreciation for our views on these resolutions. He assured poloff that the Mexican Foreign Ministry takes a close look at these resolutions each year with multiple offices weighing in and the Foreign Minister making the final decision. Juarez said that in general Mexico was predisposed to support resolutions that advance the "free determination of people's" -- a "principle" that lent support to the Palestinian position. Juarez, however, conceded few of these resolutions contributed much to peace in the Middle East and that this was becoming more a factor in Mexico's deliberations. ¶2. (C) Juarez advised that Mexico had already taken its decision on the three resolutions in question. It supported the resolutions on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights. However, it had voted November 27 to abstain on the resolution on the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. He explained that Mexico had decided to abstain on the latter for the first time last year in response to an appeal directly made by the Ambassador of Israel to Mexico's Foreign Ministry. Israel's Ambassador regularly appeals to Mexico to vote against or abstain on the wide array of Middle East resolutions but apparently last year had pushed hard on Mexico to abstain specifically on the above-mentioned resolution. This year, under a new Foreign Minister, the Foreign Ministry debated whether to reverse last year's decision and vote in favor of this resolution. Juarez's office favored reverting to support for the resolution, but Juarez advised that others had convinced the Foreign Minister to abstain again. Juarez acknowledged that the local Jewish community weighs in on these matters -- more with the Office of the Presidency than with the Foreign Ministry -- but maintained the influence it brought to bear was minimal. ¶3. (C) Comment: It is evident Mexico reflects seriously on its position on these resolutions and that it is predisposed to support resolutions that in "principle" it views as "favoring the self-determination of peoples." However, Juarez signaled Mexico is increasing sensitive to the fact that these resolutions contribute little to the peace process and in some cases could be counterproductive. Mexico has proven itself prepared to change its position on at least one resolution in response to a diplomatic appeal by Israel. Mexico debates its position on these resolutions in the opening weeks of the General Assembly. Next year, the Department may want to consider our coordinating more closely with the Israeli Embassy in making a targeted appeal for Mexico to reconsider its position on a selected number of resolutions included the ones noted above. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / GARZA