DEMARCHE RESPONSE: URUGUAY AGREES THAT HRC NEEDS

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000349 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR DRL/MLGA FOR SICADE STATE ALSO FOR IO/RHS FOR OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UY SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: URUGUAY AGREES THAT HRC NEEDS REFORM REF: STATE 61034 ¶1. (SBU) On June 10, Poloffs delivered reftel demarche to the MFA's Director of Human Rights, Alejandra de Bellis. She said the GOU was disappointed in the USG decision not to participate in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC),and that it preferred to pursue reform and improve human rights from within the organization. The GOU believes the U.S. would be better able to effect change from within as well. De Bellis agreed that the body has been politicized, and stated that Uruguay would continue to seek a balanced approach to human rights issues and avoid their politicization. The GOU views the HRC as a relatively new and still developing tool to promote human rights. "You have an ally in Uruguay," she assured us when addressing the need for reform of the HRC. Baxter