Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONTEVIDEO504
2008-09-04 19:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Montevideo
Cable title:  

URUGUAY ON U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES IN UNGA'S

Tags:  PHUM PREL UN UY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0504 2481921
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 041921Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8454
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0113
C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000504 

SIPDIS

FOR IO/RHS REBECCA JOVIN AND DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY ON U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES IN UNGA'S
THIRD COMMITTEE

REF: STATE 93981

Classified By: DCM ROBIN MATTHEWMAN, FOR REASON 1.4 (B)

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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000504

SIPDIS

FOR IO/RHS REBECCA JOVIN AND DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY ON U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES IN UNGA'S
THIRD COMMITTEE

REF: STATE 93981

Classified By: DCM ROBIN MATTHEWMAN, FOR REASON 1.4 (B)

- - - -
Summary
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1. (C) Emboff raised reftel points with MFA Director of Human
Rights Alejandra de Bellis September 4. De Bellis said that
Uruguay would oppose any "no-action motions" raised in the
Third Committee; would likely support country specific
resolutions against Burma, the DPRK, Zimbabwe, Sudan, but
would abstain on an Iran resolution; and will abstain on the
Defamation of Religions resolution. End Summary.

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No-Action Motions
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2. (C) De Bellis explained that Uruguay has a principled
position against "no-action motions." The GOU will vote
against all such motions, even if it intends to eventually
vote against the resolution the motion intends to suppress,
as Uruguay believes such motions are contrary to the spirit
of multilateralism.

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Country-Specific Resolutions
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3. (C) Uruguay would prefer that no country-specific human
rights resolutions be tabled at the Third Committee, as it
still believes the UN Human Rights Council is the appropriate
venue. Still, Uruguay would likely vote in favor of any
resolutions condemning Burma, the DPRK, Zimbabwe, and/or
Sudan, according to de Bellis. The decision to abstain on an
Iran resolution has in the past been taken at the
presidential level, de Bellis noted.

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Thematic Resolutions
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4. (C) De Bellis said Uruguay will abstain on the Defamation
of Religions resolution, as it characterizes Islam as the
only religion subject to defamation. When asked why Uruguay
would not therefore vote against the resolution, De Bellis
replied that there are elements of the text with which
Uruguay agrees. She did not specify those elements. De
Bellis gave no indication that Uruguay would be interested in
forming part of a cross-regional coalition to draft and
co-sponsor a resolution dealing with assaults on freedom of
expression.
Baxter