COSTA RICA WILL SUPPORT COUNTRY-SPECIFIC

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000918 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/MLGA CHRIS SIBILLA AND IO/HR COLLEEN NEVILLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UN CS SUBJECT: COSTA RICA WILL SUPPORT COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMITTEE REF: SECSTATE 109397 The Government of Costa Rica (GOCR) will support country-specific resolutions on Iran, Burma, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, as it has done in previous years. Foreign Ministry Director for Foreign Policy Alejandro Solano told us on October 27 that the GOCR remains concerned by the lack of human rights guarantees for the people in those countries as well as their government officials' reduction of opportunities for frank discussion with the international community about these issues. The GOCR also will support the USG's resolution on free elections, as it feels strongly that there must be transparent processes that reflect the will of the people when they elect those who govern them. Solano stated that, on principle, the GOCR always opposes no action motions, because they inhibit the discussion of positions and the making of decisions. Regarding the resolution on the rights of the child, he acknowledged the USG's interest in finding language that would allow it to join consensus. He said Costa Rica was willing to consider USG proposals as long as they did not imply a reduction in the rights achieved by other countries. On the defamation of religion resolution, Solano indicated that the GOCR would consider our points and inform us at a later date of its decision. BRENNAN