GUATEMALA: DEMARCHE ON RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001429

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE AND ALYSON GRUNDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UN GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: DEMARCHE ON RESOLUTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
IN IRAN

REF: A. STATE 118278

B. GUATEMALA 1162

C. GUATEMALA 736

Classified By: P/E Officer Mordica Simpson for reasons 1.4 (b&d).


1. (SBU) Per ref A, the Ambassador met with FM Rodas November
11 to urge GOG support for U.S. priority resolutions on Iran,
Burma, and the DPRK. Rodas stated that he would review the
issues relating to these country resolutions and inform the
Ambassador of a decision. Embassy also delivered ref A
talking points to Luis Carranza, Director for Multilateral
Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


2. (C) We thanked Carranza for the GOG's principled
opposition to no-action motions. Carranza stated that the
GOG had received pressure from the Government of Iran to vote
in favor of no-action motions, but conveyed that the GOG
would not change its policy on this issue. Embassy also
solicited GOG support for country resolutions on Iran, Burma,
and the DPRK at the upcoming Third Committee of the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Carranza stated that if the
Canadian resolution has balanced language that includes both
positive and negative aspects of the human rights situation
in Iran, the GOG may consider voting in favor of the
resolution. He also stated that the GOG may consider voting
in favor of country resolutions if the UN Secretary General
issues a report stating that there are gross human rights
violations in these countries. Carranza said he had heard
reports that the language in the draft resolution on the DPRK
would be balanced and if this is the case, the GOG may also
be able to vote in favor of this resolution. Carranza
underscored that the GOG would never vote against these
country resolutions, but may abstain. Carranza also
highlighted that the GOG has a policy of not co-sponsoring
country resolutions and noted that the GOG will make a final
decision on any resolution only after reading the proposed
language.


3. (C) Embassy also expressed the USG's disagreement that
substantive resolutions be heard through the Universal
Periodic Review process at the UN Human Rights Council
(UNHRC). According to Carranza, the GOG had "thoroughly
discussed" the fact that Universal Periodic Review only
allows countries to be reviewed every five years. However,
he stated that there are other mechanisms available through
the UNHRC, such as an emergency session, that would allow
members to discuss a country's alleged human rights
violations at any time. Carranza also highlighted that the
GOG would vote against any amendment that attempts to shift
attention from the key issues in a resolution.
McFarland