URUGUAY DEMARCHED ON CUBA, BELARUS AND PALESTINIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000569 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY DEMARCHED ON CUBA, BELARUS AND PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES REF: STATE 80095 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James D. Nealon for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Per instructions, PolCouns orally presented reftel demarche to MFA Deputy Director for Human Rights Fernando Lugris at the first available opportunity. Lugris said that Human Rights Office Director Alejandra De Bellis was in Geneva attending the Human Rights Council's Fifth Session along with Uruguay's newly-appointed Ambassador to Geneva Alejandro Artucio. He stressed Artucio's human rights credentials and his experience as a seasoned diplomat who would take principled decisions during the HRC's institution-building process. ¶2. (C) Lugris said that the Cuba special rapporteur issue was very sensitive one for GRULAC countries. He acknowledged that the Council's treatment of Israel may have been lopsided in the past, but would not comment further on this or on the Belarus special rapporteur issue. He added that while discussions were ongoing in Geneva on all three issues, Formin Gargano would have the final word on how they played out. Baxter