Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GENEVA882
2008-10-23 14:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:
COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR ON BAD NEIGHBORS, GRULAC, AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHGV #0882/01 2971424 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231424Z OCT 08 FM USMISSION GENEVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7317 INFO RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0961 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2843
C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000882
SIPDIS
IO/RHS, WHA/AND (WELLS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR ON BAD NEIGHBORS, GRULAC, AND
HUMAN RIGHTS
REF: CASSAYRE EMAIL TO IO-RHS-DL ET AL OF OCT 20
Classified By: Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 000882
SIPDIS
IO/RHS, WHA/AND (WELLS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR ON BAD NEIGHBORS, GRULAC, AND
HUMAN RIGHTS
REF: CASSAYRE EMAIL TO IO-RHS-DL ET AL OF OCT 20
Classified By: Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Colombian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva
and soon-to-be-appointed Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Clemencia Forero Ucros, called on Ambassador Tichenor on
October 7 to present Colombia's forthcoming submission under
the Universal Periodic Review mechanism and to explain
Colombia's preference for a new director in OHCHR's Bogota
office. Separately, she called the Latin American Group
(GRULAC) coordinating body in Geneva "a disaster" and
lamented the regional problems caused by the leaders of
Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador. On the recent killings of
military recruits in Colombia, Forero Ucros said she found it
inexplicable that recruits would show up dead. Her ministry
was taking the matter extremely seriously. END SUMMARY.
UPR Submission and OHCHR Office in Bogota
--------------
2. (SBU) Forero Ucros, accompanied by Colombian Minister
Counselor Adriana Mendoza Agudelo, presented Ambassador
Tichenor with an advance copy of Colombia's December 10
submission to the UPR mechanism. (Mission Geneva sent a copy
via email to the Department.) Contrary to criticism by a
small number of NGOs, she stated, the GOC had consulted
widely, including via a website through the Colombian
Vice-President's office soliciting public input. She said
the UPR process obliged multiple Colombian ministries to
share information and discuss human rights. Forero Ucros
spoke positively about the UPR as a way to treat states
equally and shed scrutiny on countries with weak civil
society. She suggested the mechanism could be improved
through the sharing of best practices.
3. (C) The Colombian Ambassador then sought USG support for
a specific candidate for the OHCHR's office in Bogota. The
GOC does not want the current interim director appointed, she
said, and would prefer former Dutch Ambassador Frans van
Haren, who has reportedly applied for the position. (Note:
Poloff subsequently consulted with the Chief of the OHCHR's
Field Operations Branch, who said the OHCHR was aware and
mindful of Colombia's concerns, but had not even begun the
interview process for short-listed candidates. In any event,
it is not clear how third governments would have any role in
the selection of the field office director, as the High
Commissioner makes the final decision based on the interviews
and the clearance by a UN review panel. End note.)
GRULAC "a Disaster"
--------------
4. (C) Shifting to a discussion of the Human Rights Council
(HRC),Forero Ucros bluntly stated "GRULAC is a disaster."
Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia have routinely sidetracked
GRULAC. She cited the example of Bolivia presenting a motion
to GRULAC stating that social upheaval was racist. More
broadly, Forero Ucros criticized the leaders of Venezuela,
Bolivia and Ecuador as destabilizing factors in the region.
UNGA Voting
--------------
5. (C) Ambassador Tichenor encouraged Colombia to increase
its voting coincidence with the U.S., including in the
current UNGA session. The Ambassador urged Colombia to
oppose no-action motions, particularly on Iran, and to vote
against a possible defamation of religion motion that OIC
member states may sponsor. Forero Ucros said she would
report those points back to her capital.
Human Rights in Colombia
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador Tichenor expressed USG concern over the
recent massacre of military recruits in Colombia. Forero
Ucros acknowledged the seriousness of this issue, stated she
found it inexplicable that recruits would show up dead the
way they had, and said that her minister and ministry were
"attributing the highest importance" to the case.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Colombia is not alone in its displeasure with GRULAC.
Smaller GRULAC states, such as Haiti (septel),also begrudge
the dominance by a handful of counter-productive governments
in the regional group. Such dissonance within the group
could provide opportunities for the USG and other like-minded
countries to win support for key issues from disaffected
GRULAC members.
TICHENOR
SIPDIS
IO/RHS, WHA/AND (WELLS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM UNHRC CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR ON BAD NEIGHBORS, GRULAC, AND
HUMAN RIGHTS
REF: CASSAYRE EMAIL TO IO-RHS-DL ET AL OF OCT 20
Classified By: Ambassador Warren W. Tichenor, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Colombian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva
and soon-to-be-appointed Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Clemencia Forero Ucros, called on Ambassador Tichenor on
October 7 to present Colombia's forthcoming submission under
the Universal Periodic Review mechanism and to explain
Colombia's preference for a new director in OHCHR's Bogota
office. Separately, she called the Latin American Group
(GRULAC) coordinating body in Geneva "a disaster" and
lamented the regional problems caused by the leaders of
Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador. On the recent killings of
military recruits in Colombia, Forero Ucros said she found it
inexplicable that recruits would show up dead. Her ministry
was taking the matter extremely seriously. END SUMMARY.
UPR Submission and OHCHR Office in Bogota
--------------
2. (SBU) Forero Ucros, accompanied by Colombian Minister
Counselor Adriana Mendoza Agudelo, presented Ambassador
Tichenor with an advance copy of Colombia's December 10
submission to the UPR mechanism. (Mission Geneva sent a copy
via email to the Department.) Contrary to criticism by a
small number of NGOs, she stated, the GOC had consulted
widely, including via a website through the Colombian
Vice-President's office soliciting public input. She said
the UPR process obliged multiple Colombian ministries to
share information and discuss human rights. Forero Ucros
spoke positively about the UPR as a way to treat states
equally and shed scrutiny on countries with weak civil
society. She suggested the mechanism could be improved
through the sharing of best practices.
3. (C) The Colombian Ambassador then sought USG support for
a specific candidate for the OHCHR's office in Bogota. The
GOC does not want the current interim director appointed, she
said, and would prefer former Dutch Ambassador Frans van
Haren, who has reportedly applied for the position. (Note:
Poloff subsequently consulted with the Chief of the OHCHR's
Field Operations Branch, who said the OHCHR was aware and
mindful of Colombia's concerns, but had not even begun the
interview process for short-listed candidates. In any event,
it is not clear how third governments would have any role in
the selection of the field office director, as the High
Commissioner makes the final decision based on the interviews
and the clearance by a UN review panel. End note.)
GRULAC "a Disaster"
--------------
4. (C) Shifting to a discussion of the Human Rights Council
(HRC),Forero Ucros bluntly stated "GRULAC is a disaster."
Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia have routinely sidetracked
GRULAC. She cited the example of Bolivia presenting a motion
to GRULAC stating that social upheaval was racist. More
broadly, Forero Ucros criticized the leaders of Venezuela,
Bolivia and Ecuador as destabilizing factors in the region.
UNGA Voting
--------------
5. (C) Ambassador Tichenor encouraged Colombia to increase
its voting coincidence with the U.S., including in the
current UNGA session. The Ambassador urged Colombia to
oppose no-action motions, particularly on Iran, and to vote
against a possible defamation of religion motion that OIC
member states may sponsor. Forero Ucros said she would
report those points back to her capital.
Human Rights in Colombia
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador Tichenor expressed USG concern over the
recent massacre of military recruits in Colombia. Forero
Ucros acknowledged the seriousness of this issue, stated she
found it inexplicable that recruits would show up dead the
way they had, and said that her minister and ministry were
"attributing the highest importance" to the case.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Colombia is not alone in its displeasure with GRULAC.
Smaller GRULAC states, such as Haiti (septel),also begrudge
the dominance by a handful of counter-productive governments
in the regional group. Such dissonance within the group
could provide opportunities for the USG and other like-minded
countries to win support for key issues from disaffected
GRULAC members.
TICHENOR