SPAIN WILL NOT SUPPORT PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000762

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS (OSTERMEIER) AND DRL/MLGA (WALTERS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: EUN KDEM PHUM PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN WILL NOT SUPPORT PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS EVENT IN NY

REF: STATE 70829

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (SBU) On July 8 Poloff thanked the Spanish MFA Director of
Human Rights, Fernando Fernandez-Arias Minuesa, for GOS
support on the June 17 declaration regarding prisoners of
conscience. Per reftel, poloff informed Fernandez-Arias of
the U.S. intent to organize a public affairs event in New
York during the week of July 21 and asked for GOS support.


2. (C) Fernandez-Arias explained that although the GOS
understands the U.S. position regarding the Human Rights
Council, the GOS and most EU member states believe that the
event should occur in Geneva. He stated that neither the EU,
nor the GOS in its national capacity, will co-sponsor a New
York public affairs event. Given that the GOS is not a
member of ECOSOC, Fernandez-Arias said that GOS attendance at
a U.S. sponsored New York event would be determined at a
later time.
LLORENS