Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO949
2009-12-21 19:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
Embassy Santiago Suggestions for Defamation of Religions
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSG #0949 3551941 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211941Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0471 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000949
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM CI
SUBJECT: Embassy Santiago Suggestions for Defamation of Religions
Issue
REF: A. STATE 128320; B. SANTIAGO 166; C. STATE 128322
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000949
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM CI
SUBJECT: EMBASSY Santiago Suggestions for Defamation of Religions
Issue
REF: A. STATE 128320; B. SANTIAGO 166; C. STATE 128322
1. (SBU) In response to Ref A query on engaging Chile on the
question of defamation of religion, EMBASSY Santiago advises that
Chile has already voted "no" along with the United States on the
defamation of religion issue in the UNGA (Ref B). We believe that
Washington has already found an effective way to reinforce Chile's
position through the Secretary's letter to FM Fernandez and offer
to send U.S. experts to discuss the matter with Chilean
counterparts (Ref C).
2. (SBU) As a general proposition, Chile will take U.S. concerns
into consideration and will look for opportunities to support us
when that coincides with Chile's own interests. However, the
Foreign Ministry currently has just 2-3 Santiago-based foreign
policy professionals engaged on human rights issues. Therefore,
Chile lacks the resources to simultaneously monitor the wide range
of human right issues discussed in multilateral fora, engage with
us on domestic and bilateral issues of interest to the United
States, and absorb our numerous approaches to them on multilateral
human rights issues.
3. (SBU) Thus, our challenge is to develop a strategy that
responds both to Chile's willingness to work with us and their
limited resources to do so. We suggest Washington to identify 2-3
issues in a given year where it would be most fruitful to engage
with Chile, communicate those interests to Chile at the beginning
of the relevant UNGA or other session, and focus subsequent
engagement on those broad areas. Towards that end, putting U.S.
and foreign experts and decisionmakers in direct contact with each
other is critical. Those encounters are even more fruitful when
the U.S. experts not only bring awareness of multilateral issues
and U.S. objectives, but have the regional experience to understand
how those issues mesh with regional and Chilean priorities as well.
SIMONS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM CI
SUBJECT: EMBASSY Santiago Suggestions for Defamation of Religions
Issue
REF: A. STATE 128320; B. SANTIAGO 166; C. STATE 128322
1. (SBU) In response to Ref A query on engaging Chile on the
question of defamation of religion, EMBASSY Santiago advises that
Chile has already voted "no" along with the United States on the
defamation of religion issue in the UNGA (Ref B). We believe that
Washington has already found an effective way to reinforce Chile's
position through the Secretary's letter to FM Fernandez and offer
to send U.S. experts to discuss the matter with Chilean
counterparts (Ref C).
2. (SBU) As a general proposition, Chile will take U.S. concerns
into consideration and will look for opportunities to support us
when that coincides with Chile's own interests. However, the
Foreign Ministry currently has just 2-3 Santiago-based foreign
policy professionals engaged on human rights issues. Therefore,
Chile lacks the resources to simultaneously monitor the wide range
of human right issues discussed in multilateral fora, engage with
us on domestic and bilateral issues of interest to the United
States, and absorb our numerous approaches to them on multilateral
human rights issues.
3. (SBU) Thus, our challenge is to develop a strategy that
responds both to Chile's willingness to work with us and their
limited resources to do so. We suggest Washington to identify 2-3
issues in a given year where it would be most fruitful to engage
with Chile, communicate those interests to Chile at the beginning
of the relevant UNGA or other session, and focus subsequent
engagement on those broad areas. Towards that end, putting U.S.
and foreign experts and decisionmakers in direct contact with each
other is critical. Those encounters are even more fruitful when
the U.S. experts not only bring awareness of multilateral issues
and U.S. objectives, but have the regional experience to understand
how those issues mesh with regional and Chilean priorities as well.
SIMONS