UNGA: SPAIN'S RESPONSE TO USG THIRD COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001045 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/HR (COLLEEN NEVILLE) AND DRL/MLGA (CHRIS SIBILLA) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN SP IS KPAL SUBJECT: UNGA: SPAIN'S RESPONSE TO USG THIRD COMMITTEE PRIORITIES REF: SECSTATE 108921 Classified By: ADCM William H. Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Poloff discussed the UNGA Third Committee agenda with the Spanish MFA's Director of Human Rights, Juan Duarte, October 23. Duarte said that Spain and the United States were on the same page with respect to country-specific resolutions (Iran, Burma and DPRK),but took the opportunity to share serious EU concerns regarding the U.S./Egypt freedom of expression resolution. Duarte reiterated Spain's desire for USG ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and spoke at length about next steps on the Goldstone Report. Duarte said that Spain has been active with the Lobbying Task Force, along with the Swedes and British, and has responsibility for lobbying 29 of the 90 targeted countries. Lobbying to this point has taken place in capitals, but will begin next week in New York. Responses thus far have been predictable. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Country-specific resolutions: Duarte said that Spain is, without a doubt, on the same page as the United States (and EU) with respect to the annual resolution on human rights in Burma and the DPRK. He said that Canada has not yet presented the anticipated resolution on the status of human rights in Iran, but added that the Canadian Ambassador to Spain had demarched them on the issue. so it should be forthcoming. He said that an Iran resolution will be widely-supported given post-election activity. ¶3. (C) Duarte was quick to share what he described as the serious deception of the EU by the United States on the "stereo-typing of religion" language included in the joint U.S./Egypt freedom of expression resolution. The included language was a serious red-line issue for the EU in Durban II, according to Duarte. The EU was not given any opportunity for consultation on the draft language and its inclusion seriously weakens the EU's negotiating position in fora such as UNGA and Durban, he said. Duarte reported that "all of the EU feels deceived, but especially France and the Nordic countries." Tempering the criticism he said that Spain, in its final estimation, did not mind the language so much since similar language had been used in AOC resolutions. It was the perceived lack of consultation that drew ire. He said that they (the EU) understand it was a political decision, would "get over it," and accept it as "agreed language." ¶4. (C) Poloff shared the USG desire to work with the EU and GRULAC on the Convention of the Rights of the Child resolution, to which Duarte responded that common ground had already been found by every UN country except the two - the United States and Somalia. He added that this stream-lined, consensual EU/GRULAC resolution is the only joint resolution between the two groups this year and that support for their initiative will benefit future EU/GRULAC relations. USG support would also serve to recognize the hard work the two groups have put into the resolution, Duarte added. ¶5. (C) Moving onto Goldstone, Duarte shared that on October 22, there had been an EU conference call to discuss future action. "We are all very confused," he confided. A Goldstone Report resolution may come before the Third Committee on October 29, according to Duarte. He said that Arab countries are concerned about not having enough support in the UNSC and may use the UNGA as an alternative venue. He also said that the British, in order to kill the resolution, have talked about bringing it before the Security Council themselves, but only with the assurance that it would fail, and thus not be a potential item for the General Assembly. He further opined, "What happened in Geneva was serious. Spain had no vote, but now we cannot hide." Duarte said that the EU 27 are struggling to come up with a common position, but at the most, we could hope for abstention. There is concern amongst EU members that referral of the allegations to the ICC is imminent, Duarte said, not to mention the potential implications of this issue on the EU/Israel Association Agreement and the MEPP. Notwithstanding all the concern about treatment of Goldstone within the UN, Duarte said that the GOS felt that there were serious issues in the report that needed to be addressed and that FM Moratinos had shared with the Israeli's on his recent trip the need for flexibility. CHACON