COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR ON BAD NEIGHBORS, GRULAC, AND

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