ARGENTINA CONFIRMS CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000598 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2028 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC UNGA AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA CONFIRMS CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REF: (A) SECSTATE 46477 (B) BUENOS AIRES 0515 Classified By: Ambassador Wayne for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (SBU) On May 6, Polcouns delivered ref A demarche to Martin Romero in the Argentine MFA's Directorate for International Organizations (DIOIN). Polcouns expressed U.S. concern about the performance of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC),including its tendency to focus on Israel while simultaneously neglecting human rights concerns in Belarus, Sudan, and Cuba. He noted U.S. belief that the only way for the Council to change direction was for strong democracies to assume as many seats as possible in this year's election. Romero confirmed that Argentina is running for a seat on the Council, and that regional consensus seemed to be holding for Argentina, Brazil and Chile to be the only three regional candidates this year in accordance with rotation schedule through the year 2020. Romero provided a copy of a brochure the GOA is circulating in support of its candidacy, which includes a commitment to discourage "no-action" motions at the UNHRC. Polcouns noted that, if Argentina is elected, we hope to see close cooperation with the GOA on important human rights issues worldwide. ¶2. (C) Per ref B, post continues to recommend that the Department favorably consider Argentina's request for support of its UNHRC candidacy. Argentina's performance in its first year on the Council was generally responsible. Argentina was helpful on the Belarus membership vote, and it voted for country-specific resolutions against Burma, Belarus, Cuba and the DPRK. In addition, Argentina supported our candidate for the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. WAYNE