MFA ACTION ON UNSC ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 000594 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, IO/UNP RMEYER AND RGOLDENBERG, USUN JDELAURENTIS. E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2018 TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU CS SUBJECT: MFA ACTION ON UNSC ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS RESOLUTION SHOWS GOCR'S STYLE REF: A. STATE 73173 ¶B. SAN JOSE/IO EMAIL (HENIFIN/MEYER)--07/09/08 ¶C. SAN JOSE/IO EMAIL (NEELY/GOLDENBERG)--07/09/08 ¶D. IO/SAN JOSE EMAIL (MEYER/NEELY)--07-09-08 ¶E. STATE 74375 ¶F. SAN JOSE 458 Classified By: DCM Peter M. Brennan for reason 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 11, after a week of back-and-forthing between San Jose, Washington and New York, the MFA confirmed support of the U.S. draft UNSC Zimbabwe sanctions resolution. However, the MFA said that PermRep Urbina would offer an explanation for the vote -- presumably to signal the GOCR's disappointment in not having all its desired language included. We believe this reflects the strong GOCR interest in making a mark on the UNSC, especially on human rights- or democracy-related issues, which Costa Rica views as areas of expertise. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) For the record, on July 9, we delivered talking points on the US Zimbabwe sanctions resolution, per Ref A, to Antonio Alarcon, Chief of Staff to FonMin Stagno; Adriana Murillo, MFA UNSC Team Leader; and Juan Salas, UNSC Desk Officer. We reported delivery of the demarche on July 9 in Ref B. Last week's phone call by AS Shannon to FonMin Stagno evidently helped keep the MFA energized on this issue, although Stagno was inclined to take a strong stance anyway. ¶3. (SBU) Also on July 9, Alarcon told DCM that the GOCR was supportive of the resolution, and Alarcon did not discount the GOCR's UN Mission finally signing on the resolution as is. However, he said that Costa Rica would continue to push to add language concerning democracy and free elections (see below),which the MFA believed made the resolution stronger. ¶4. (SBU) The MFA provided us its recommended changes later on July 9, which we forwarded by separate email on the OpenNet (Ref C). Please find the unofficial translation of pertinent text of the GOCR's introduction and the text of the GOCR's desired changes, as of the afternoon of July 9, below. Murillo specifically requested clarification on the time line for the resolution (which we understand may have been voted on today, July 11.) ¶5. (SBU) Begin unofficial translation of MFA rationale for changes and English-provided text of the requested changes: Costa Rica considers free and fair elections a central element in the promotion and protection of Human Rights and the State of Law. States have the responsibility to assure necessary measures to facilitate effective participation in their electoral processes. The situation in Zimbabwe, since last March, the disrespect of the will of its people, the political violence, the murders, torture, generalized aggressions and detentions of presumed opposition-party members, obliges the Security Council to respond and act accordingly. Costa Rica: --Welcomes the draft resolution presented and considers it a positive step for Council action. --Welcomes with special approval the inclusion of language regarding the necessity to establish responsibilities in relation to human rights abuses and to establish justice. --Signals as especially important that the parameters for establishing sanctions are clearly defined. --Considers that this is a grand opportunity for democracies and that the triggering elements for Security Council intervention should be adequately framed and clearly established. In this sense, Costa Rica proposes to make reference to the beginning of periodic and genuine elections in the Universal Declaration, according to the following language: PP 4 bis Recalling relevant General Assembly resolutions with regards to enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections, including resolutions 45/150 and 62/150). PP 14.1.bis Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948, in particular the principle that the SAN JOSE 00000594 002 OF 002 will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right freely to choose representatives through periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures (62/150). PP 14.2.bis Stressing its conviction that periodic and genuine elections are a necessary and indispensable element of sustained efforts to protect the rights and interests of the governed and that, as a matter of practical experience, the right of everyone to take part in the government of his or her country is a crucial factor in the effective enjoyment by all of a wide range of other human rights and fundamental freedoms, embracing political, economic, social and cultural rights (45/150). The proposed language is the language accorded by General Assembly resolutions A/RES/45/150, approved with 129 in favor, 8 opposed and 9 abstentions, and A/RES/62/150, approved with 182 in favor, none opposed, and 2 abstentions. END TEXT of MFA communication. ¶6. (SBU) On July 11, we delivered Ref E to Adriana Murillo, MFA UNSC Team Leader who was handling the Zimbabwe issue. She reiterated that Costa Rica would vote in favor of our resolution because they considered the situation in Zimbabwe unacceptable. However, the GOCR felt "obliged to give an explanation of vote." (Based on her reply, we assume that their statement will have to do with all their desired language not being included.) ¶7. (C) COMMENT: We understand that energetic USUN lobbying evidently resolved the language issue late on July 9. We also understand that the proposed Costa Rican changes actually went deeper into preambular and operative language than we were led to believe by our interlocutors here (who may not have had the absolute latest information when we contacted them). Given the fluid and fast-moving nature of these discussions in New York, and the likelihood that there will be similar situations in the future, we appreciate any Costa Rica-specific details or "color" that USUN or IO/UNP can provide (by email or phone) to better equip us to help in cases like this. When it is feasible to get Costa Rica's input and buy-in during the drafting process of (especially human rights- or democracy-related) resolutions, Costa Rican cooperation may increase. Like the earlier Prisoners of Conscience Declaration (Ref F),the Zimbabwe resolution seems to reflect the strong GOCR interest in making a mark on the UNSC, especially on human rights- or democracy-related issues, which Costa Rica views as areas of expertise. We expect that the GOCR will continue to insist that its views be given more weight in these areas. CIANCHETTE