FOREIGN MINISTER ARGUETA ON UNGA VOTING DIFFERENCES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001190

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PREL UNGA ES UN KV
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ARGUETA ON UNGA VOTING DIFFERENCES

REF: A. STATE 105129

B. STATE 105796

Classified By: AMBASSADOR GLAZER FOR REASONS 1.4(b) AND (d).

1.(C) Summary: Foreign Minister Marisol Argueta de Barillas
told DCM October 10 that regional pressure and specific
wording in resolution drafts may explain some of the
disparity between U.S. and GOES voting patterns at UNGA.
Argueta said that GOES support for the Serbian resolution to
send the Kosovo issue to the ICJ was not a vote against
Kosovo but a need for clarification on international legal
parameters for recognition of independent nations. End
Summary.

2.(C) DCM met with Foreign Minister Marisol Argueta de
Barillas October 10 to encourage the GOES examine its voting
record at the UNGA and explore ways to ensure voting patterns
reflect the close relationship shared by the U.S. and the
GOES (ref A). After informing Argueta that El Salvador votes
with the U.S. only 13 percent of the time at the UNGA,
Argueta committed to review key issues where the U.S. and the
GOES have not voted together and find ways to further align
our policies.

3.(C) Argueta explained that there are two reasons that the
GOES sometimes finds it difficult to vote with the U.S.
First, in certain regional issues, the GOES is under
significant pressure from neighboring countries to support
policies that may conflict with U.S. policy. Argueta cited
U.S. Cuba policy as an example. Second, Argueta explained
that many resolutions were drafted in a manner making it hard
for the GOES to vote with the U.S. According to Argueta this
was the case with the recent vote on the Serbian resolution
(ref B).

4.(C) Argueta pointed out that there were key issues where
the U.S. and the GOES have consistently voted together and
suggested there was a difference between quality of votes and
quantity of votes. She indicated that human rights was an
issue that the GOES and the U.S. have voted on together, and
reiterated GOES support for initiatives regarding U.S. policy
towards Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Argueta also said that
there was room to come together on issues surrounding human
rights and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

5.(C) Argueta acknowledged that the GOES supported the
Serbian resolution on ICJ consideration of Kosovo
independence, but reiterated that it was not a vote against
recognition of an independent Kosovo. The GOES felt it was
important to allow the ICJ to define parameters under which
recognition of independent nations would conform to
international law. Once the parameters were defined by the
court, then the GOES could decide whether to support Kosovar
independence.

6.(C) Comment: We will continue to press our Salvadoran
counterparts to consider their UNGA votes in light of our
close relationship. We believe early and ongoing contact
with the Salvadorans in both Washington and New York - in
addition to our efforts here in San Salvador - will help move
the GOES into our column in future votes.
GLAZER