Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10MADRID160
2010-02-08 14:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
ACTION REQUEST II: PRESSURING IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO9027 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHMD #0160 0391458 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081458Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1905 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000160
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/IR, ALSO FOR DRL AND P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2020
TAGS: IR PHUM PREF SP
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST II: PRESSURING IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
REF: A. STATE 21208
B. MADRID 119
C. MADRID 69
D. MADRID 59
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Arnold A. Chacon, Reasons 1.4(b)
,(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000160
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/IR, ALSO FOR DRL AND P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2020
TAGS: IR PHUM PREF SP
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST II: PRESSURING IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
REF: A. STATE 21208
B. MADRID 119
C. MADRID 69
D. MADRID 59
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Arnold A. Chacon, Reasons 1.4(b)
,(d).
1. (C) Polcouns met February 8, 2010, with Spanish MFA Sub-DG
for the Near East Alberto Ucelay to deliver ref a points.
Ucelay was joined by Beatriz Lorenzo from the MFA's Human
Rights Office. Ucelay said Spain shared U.S. worries over
the human rights violations occurring in Iran. He said that
since June the GOI had clearly begun taking a much harder
line against political opponents and defenders of human
rights. He said this was a topic of conversation both within
the GOS and between the GOS and the EU. He said the question
was how the EU could most effectively make its concerns
known, both privately and publicly. Ucelay said the human
rights concerns clearly related to issues of Iran's nuclear
ambitions and its attempts to exercise influence in other
countries, but he said Spain believed that in public at
least, it was important to separate the issues. He said the
Spanish EU presidency was working closely with HR Ashton on
the human rights issue and wanted her to speak out. Ucelay
said Spain wanted the issue of human rights in Iran to stay
high on the EU agenda throughout its presidency and beyond.
He also stressed Spain's appreciation for U.S. efforts to
coordinate closely on Iran (refs b-d) and emphasized Spain's
desire to continue working closely with the U.S. bilaterally
as well as in Geneva and New York.
2. (C) Ucelay agreed that Iran was sensitive to diplomatic
isolation and high-level statements. He noted that in
mid-January, Spain had supported an EU demarche to the GOI
complaining about recent acts of political repression. When
the GOI proved indifferent to the message delivered in
Teheran, a decision was made to repeat the message to Iranian
ambassadors in all 27 EU member states (he said the Iranian
ambassador in Madrid was called in). Ucelay and Lorenzo also
shared U.S. concerns over Iran's candidacy for the Human
Rights Council and gratitude for U.S. consultations on that
issue. Lorenzo said it would be important for like-minded
countries to continue working together as the question of
tactics for blocking Iran was key.
SOLOMONT
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/IR, ALSO FOR DRL AND P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2020
TAGS: IR PHUM PREF SP
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST II: PRESSURING IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
REF: A. STATE 21208
B. MADRID 119
C. MADRID 69
D. MADRID 59
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Arnold A. Chacon, Reasons 1.4(b)
,(d).
1. (C) Polcouns met February 8, 2010, with Spanish MFA Sub-DG
for the Near East Alberto Ucelay to deliver ref a points.
Ucelay was joined by Beatriz Lorenzo from the MFA's Human
Rights Office. Ucelay said Spain shared U.S. worries over
the human rights violations occurring in Iran. He said that
since June the GOI had clearly begun taking a much harder
line against political opponents and defenders of human
rights. He said this was a topic of conversation both within
the GOS and between the GOS and the EU. He said the question
was how the EU could most effectively make its concerns
known, both privately and publicly. Ucelay said the human
rights concerns clearly related to issues of Iran's nuclear
ambitions and its attempts to exercise influence in other
countries, but he said Spain believed that in public at
least, it was important to separate the issues. He said the
Spanish EU presidency was working closely with HR Ashton on
the human rights issue and wanted her to speak out. Ucelay
said Spain wanted the issue of human rights in Iran to stay
high on the EU agenda throughout its presidency and beyond.
He also stressed Spain's appreciation for U.S. efforts to
coordinate closely on Iran (refs b-d) and emphasized Spain's
desire to continue working closely with the U.S. bilaterally
as well as in Geneva and New York.
2. (C) Ucelay agreed that Iran was sensitive to diplomatic
isolation and high-level statements. He noted that in
mid-January, Spain had supported an EU demarche to the GOI
complaining about recent acts of political repression. When
the GOI proved indifferent to the message delivered in
Teheran, a decision was made to repeat the message to Iranian
ambassadors in all 27 EU member states (he said the Iranian
ambassador in Madrid was called in). Ucelay and Lorenzo also
shared U.S. concerns over Iran's candidacy for the Human
Rights Council and gratitude for U.S. consultations on that
issue. Lorenzo said it would be important for like-minded
countries to continue working together as the question of
tactics for blocking Iran was key.
SOLOMONT