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