Argentina: Presidential Declaration of Argentina, Brazil

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001726 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BR VE AR SUBJECT: Argentina: Presidential Declaration of Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela Condemning all Forms of Discrimination ¶1. Argentine Ambassador to the United States Hector Timerman gave the Ambassador December 17 an unsigned copy of a joint declaration that he said was signed by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Brazil on the margins of the December 16-17 summit meetings. The declaration condemns different forms of discrimination and intolerance. ¶2. Embassy's informal translation of declaration follows: Declaration of the Presidents of the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of Condemnation of Racism, Discrimination, Religious Intolerance, Racial Discrimination and other Related Forms of Intolerance. The Presidents of the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela met in Costa de Sauipe, Brazil on December 16, 2008, and: Observe with serious concern that, at the outset of the third millennium, there are still a great many victims of racism, discrimination and religious intolerance, particularly anti-Semitism and anti-Islamism; racial discrimination, and other related forms of intolerance, and that in different regions of the world racist and discriminatory practices persist or have reemerged. Reaffirm the principles of equality and non-discrimination recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and recognize the elementary importance of the full compliance with the obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Thus, the Presidents declare their most energetic condemnation of racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Islamism, racial discrimination and other related forms of intolerance, and renew their commitment to continuing working on the national, regional and international levels to reinforce the mechanisms of promotion and protection of human rights to assure their full observance, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, political opinions or any distinction whatsoever. End informal translation of joint declaration. WAYNE