BRAZIL'S UNGA PRIORITIES: A/S BRIMMER'S SEPTEMBER

UNCLAS STATE 104723 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PREL SUBJECT: BRAZIL'S UNGA PRIORITIES: A/S BRIMMER'S SEPTEMBER 24 MEETING WITH BRAZILIAN DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CARLOS DUARTE ¶1. SUMMARY. IO Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer met with Brazilian Director-General for International Organizations Carlos Duarte on September 24 to discuss a wide range of multilateral issues, including peacekeeping, human rights, the Alliance of Civilizations, Brazil's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC),and UNSC reform. Duarte also mentioned the closed-door UNSC consultations on Brazil's letter concerning the situation in Honduras. END SUMMARY. -------------- Honduras -------------- ¶2. Duarte mentioned the closed-door consultations of the UNSC, scheduled for September 25, to express Brazil's concern for the physical security of their embassy in Tegucigalpa. As of September 24, there had been no violations of the space, and the de-facto government had restored water and electricity the previous day. Duarte was looking forward to UNSC discussions moving into an open session format in which Brazil could participate. -------------- Human Rights Issues -------------- ¶3. A/S Brimmer expressed hope that the United States could bridge gaps in the Human Rights Council (HRC),citing our seeking consensus on the freedom of expression resolution and expressing our appreciation for Brazil's support. Duarte expressed the hope that the resolution would be adopted. ¶4. (SBU) A/S Brimmer expressed our hope that continued discussions on the Goldstone report would remain in the HRC and not in other bodies as mentioned in the report. The United States has planned to run a resolution to continue the process in the HRC, as delegations still needed time to review and digest the lengthy report. Duarte said that this matter was not part of his direct portfolio, but noted that the report was part of broader issues with "significant policy implications." Brazil would study the report carefully, but he was not sure what sort of follow-up would be warranted or necessary. ¶5. (SBU) On the Third Committee, A/S Brimmer noted that Brazil abstained on the Iran no-action motion last year, and asked Brazil to vote "no" this year. Duarte said that he would convey this view to the person in charge of human rights in the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that there is a "delicate balance to strike." ¶6. A/S Brimmer also mentioned the possibility that other member states would invoke the Durban II anti-racism conference. She warned against having to re-fight the argument and asked for Brazil's help to find language to move past Durban II in future HRC documents. -------------- Brazil and Peacekeeping -------------- ¶7. A/S Brimmer acknowledged Brazil's contributions to Haiti, noting that Haiti remained a high U.S. priority. Duarte said that MINUSTAH was important to Brazil, and both he and A/S Brimmer noted that the reduction of troops in favor of an increased number of police was an auspicious trend. Strengthening Haiti's police force was a major challenge, and Brazil was engaged in training Haitian troops, Duarte commented. Brazil had also increased the number of army engineers and had cooperated with Haiti bilaterally, as well. For example, Brazil was building a dam to provide electricity to Port Au Prince. Duarte said that President Bill Clinton's appointment as special envoy for Haiti raised awareness, and Duarte expressed pleasure that the most recent donors conference raised $150 million. Brazil was now looking at the mandate renewal, which he believed could be an area where Brazil and the United States showed similar views and can collaborate. -------------- Alliance of Civilizations -------------- ¶8. Brazil expects to host the third meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) in May 2010, Duarte remarked, and hoped that the United States would participate. A/S Brimmer said that the United States might do so, as the United States hoped that Brazil, as host, would embrace a wider perspective and a truly global range of issues. Duarte said that Brazil was glad to be taking a prominent role, and had appointed a special envoy at the ambassadorial level, whom he suggested IO should meet prior to the meeting. (NOTE: IO/UNP staff met with the special envoy on the margins of the September 26 Alliance of Civilizations breakfast at the UNGA. END NOTE.) -------------- Brazil's Non-Permanent UNSC Seat -------------- ¶9. Presuming election in the upcoming uncontested race, Duarte said that Brazil's non-permanent UNSC seat for the 2010 - 2011 term will be a good opportunity to be directly involved in UNSC agenda items and will stimulate Brazil's involvement in peacekeeping in general. This will also take Brazil to the center stage of other important political issues. He is looking forward to consultations at the Department of State after their election and before taking their seat in order to talk about issues on which Brazil can take a leadership role. -------------- UN Security Council Reform -------------- ¶10. Duarte said that he appreciated the smooth transition of intergovernmental negotiations from the 63rd to the 64th sessions of the UN General Assembly, as he believed that informal UNGA plenary sessions were the most appropriate forum in which to move closer to a decision on UNSC expansion, and a great improvement over the Open Ended Working Group. He noted that there were no changes in the main positions but hoped that in subsequent sessions member states would be able to narrow down the discussion. Duarte believed that the results of the U.S. policy review would be key to any movement on the issue, as Brazil was eager to "push the issue forward within the general context of the evolution in international relations and the aspiration of other nations to larger roles in multilateral diplomacy." CLINTON