MEXICO ON UNRWA AT 60 - SPEAKING ROLE FOR ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 002658 SIPDIS STATE FOR PRM/ANE (RAMGOOLIE),IO/RHS (ENAV),IO/UNP (MORRISON),AND WHA/MEX E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019 TAGS: PREF PREL UNGA KPAL IS MX SUBJECT: MEXICO ON UNRWA AT 60 - SPEAKING ROLE FOR ISRAEL REF: STATE 090804 Classified By: Deputy Polcouns James P. Merz. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) . (C) Poloff conveyed reftel points September 4 to Julian Juarez Cadenas, Deputy Director General for UN-Related Security and Legal Issues at the Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE). Juarez said he already had discussed Israel's request to speak at the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) "at 60" event with officials from the Israeli Embassy in Mexico City. Given the high level nature of the event on September 24 and the limited amount of time with other scheduled speakers, Juarez said that the GOM is concerned that there might not be enough time for Israel to address the group. Juarez told Poloff that the GOM believes Israel should have the opportunity in principle because it is involved in the work of the UNRWA. He said Mexico's decision will depend on how the majority feels at the September 8 Steering Committee meeting, especially the Arab countries, with whom the GOM is particulary cautious. He added that, during the preparatory meetings for the event, it was not known that Israel wanted a speaking role. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / PASCUAL