Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUENOSAIRES169
2009-02-18 20:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

ARGENTINA SHARES U.S. DURBAN CONCERNS

Tags:  PHUM PREL UNHRC AR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHBU #0169 0492055
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O 182055Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3062
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0746
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0276
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000169 

SIPDIS

FOR DRL/MLGA ALYSON GRUNDER AND LYNN SICADE
FOR IO/RHS CARI ENAV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA SHARES U.S. DURBAN CONCERNS

REF: SECSTATE 14204

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000169

SIPDIS

FOR DRL/MLGA ALYSON GRUNDER AND LYNN SICADE
FOR IO/RHS CARI ENAV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA SHARES U.S. DURBAN CONCERNS

REF: SECSTATE 14204


1. (U) Acting Polcouns raised on February 18 with MFA
Director General for Human Rights Silvia Fernandez reftel
points on USG participation in the intergovernmental working
group (IWG) of the Durban Review Conference. Fernandez
welcomed USG participation in the IWG, saying that U.S.
participation will help inject new perspectives into a
polarized debate that often pits the EU against Asia and
Africa. She said she understood that the USG would decide
later on future participation in subsequent meetings and the
Durban Conference itself. She also indicated that the
Argentine government shared many of our concerns, and noted
that the Argentine and U.S. delegations planned to meet later
that same day to discuss strategies on how to moderate
negotiations of the draft outcome document. She said the
draft text was "supported by a few and rejected by many." In
particular, the GOA found the references to Israel,
Israel-Palestine issues, and defamation of religion as
problematic. Fernandez asserted that the document should not
be used as a pretext to punish a country and to include
issues that have nothing to do with discrimination. She
noted, however, that EU and U.S. efforts to eliminate
problematic language "will be difficult" as much of the
language is lifted from the outcome document of the first
Durban conference.


2. (U) Fernandez disclosed that she participated in the last
working group session for the Durban Review Conference in
late January and described the situation as "depressing."
Nevertheless, she praised the IWG Chair, who is Russian, for
working to obtain the confidence of all parties, noting that
"this is not an easy thing to do." She relayed that the
Palestinian representative had indicated that he did not want
the Middle East conflict "to take the conference hostage" and
had vowed to work with Switzerland to develop consensus
language, a step she viewed as "hopeful." With the Durban
conference still several weeks away, however, she opined that
countries were locked in their positions and not yet ready to
negotiate.


3. (U) Fernandez said that Argentina was working with Chile
as GRULAC chair to coordinate GRULAC's position, and that
generally speaking, GRULAC was working to facilitate
consensus on the outcome document. When asked about the
GOA's and GRULAC's position on reparations for colonialism,
slavery, and apartheid, she acknowledged that GRULAC has not
made any interventions on these issues. Representatives from
Caribbean countries have voiced their views on the matter
"more strongly," perhaps given their colonial history, she
explained, but there is no GRULAC consensus on the matter.
KELLY