DEMARCHE DELIVERED: URUGUAY PLEASED AT U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000127

SIPDIS

WHA/BSC FOR MDASCHBACH
IO/HRS FOR AMY OSTERMEIER AND GAYATRI PATEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: URUGUAY PLEASED AT U.S.
RENEWED PARTICIPATION IN UNHRC

REF: STATE 18282

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robin Matthewman
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (U) Post delivered reftel demarche February 27 to the
MFA's Human Rights Director, Laura Dupuy. The MFA's Human
Rights Department accepted the points but did not immediately
offer a substantive response.


2. (C) On March 2, Dupuy offered a more detailed response.
She noted that the GOU is pleased at the USG's renewed
participation in the UN Human Rights Council. With regard to
the Durban Review Conference, the GOU shares USG concern
about references to "defamation of religion." Dupuy stated
that this topic has also come up in regional meetings with
the Arab League and that the GOU has prepared and could offer
alternative text that addresses this issue. Dupuy agreed
with the other requested textual changes (a shortened
declaration that doesn't reaffirm all elements of the 2001
declaration and does not contain any specific references to
any one country or any single conflict),but found them
unrealistic.

Matthewman