EL SALVADOR: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON UNGA THIRD

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002150

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE, SYLVIA HAMMOND AND
IO/RHS AMY OSTERMEIER, DEEPA GHOSH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON UNGA THIRD
COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS

REF: 145641


1. (U) Summary: On October 22, PolOff delivered reftel
demarche to solicit support for U.S. priority resolutions in
the UN General Assembly,s Third Committee to Gustavo
Argueta, MFA Specialist in Charge of the United Nations.
Argueta said El Salvador will review the country specific
resolutions when tabled. He will forward U.S. concerns about
"no-action" motions and retaliatory resolutions to the
Salvador delegation in New York. Although Argueta would not
commit to supporting any of the U.S. priorities, it seems
likely that El Salvador will support the country-specific
resolutions and the resolution in support of the UN Elections
Program. He did not express an opinion or offer comments
about the defamation of religion resolution. He said El
Salvador has supported the EU resolution calling for a
moratorium on the death penalty in the past and will likely
continue that support. End Summary.

-------------- ---
"NO-ACTION" MOTIONS AND RETALIATORY RESOLUTIONS
-------------- ---


2. (U) Argueta said the El Salvador delegation was aware
that the U.S. discourages use of "no-action" motions and
retaliatory resolutions. He said he would pass the message to
the delegation.

--------------
COUNTRY SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS
--------------


3. (U) Iran - Argueta said the Canadian Ambassador had
requested Salvadoran support for the Iran resolution when she
visited the MFA in September. Argueta said El Salvador would
likely support the Iran resolution, but would wait to see the
final version of the resolution before making a decision.


4. (U) Burma - Argueta said the Portuguese Ambassador had
informed the Salvadoran Embassy in Mexico of the pending
Burma resolution. He said a decision would be made once the
MFA reviewed the final text of the resolution.


5. (U) Belarus and DPRK - PolOff and Argueta discussed the
Belarus and DPRK resolutions. Argueta said the MFA would
carefully review each resolution when it was introduced.

--------------
THEMATIC RESOLUTIONS
--------------


6. (U) Argueta acknowledged U.S. concerns regarding the text
of the OIC resolutions regarding the defamation of religion.
He said he would pass the concerns to the delegation.


7. (U) Argueta expressed support for the U.S. resolution in
support of the UN Elections Program and said El Salvador
might be willing to cosponsor the resolution.


8. (U) Argueta said El Salvador has supported the resolution
calling for a moratorium on the death penalty in the past,
and El Salvador will likely support the EU resolution if
introduced.
Glazer