DEMARCHE DELIVERED: USG PARTICIPATION IN THE UN

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000166 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/RHS AOSTERMEIER AND GPATEL. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL CS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: USG PARTICIPATION IN THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND POSTURE TOWARDS THE DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE REF: A. SECSTATE 18282 ¶B. 08 SAN JOSE 501 ¶C. 08 SAN JOSE 763 ¶1. (SBU) On March 6, we delivered reftel points to Linyi Baidal, the MFA's new Deputy Director of Foreign Policy. Baidal "welcomed" the U.S. back as an observer to the UNHRC, and she repeated Costa Rica's view that it was better to work from within the Council (Refs B and C); if not, it left the space open for other countries to hijack human rights issues. Baidal told us again that Costa Rica would not seek a UNHRC seat during the current administration (which ends in 2010) due to its small staff and other ongoing GOCR priorities, such as the UNSC. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding the Durban Review Conference text, Baidal understood the U.S. posture but offered no substantive response. She told us that the GOCR had just begun the process of developing its own position in consultation with other governmental entities and NGOs. She felt certain that the GOCR position would be consistent with its past views on this issue. Baidal reiterated the GOCR's support for Universal Periodic Review (Ref B). CIANCHETTE