Mexico Anticipates Difficult UPR Review for Iran

UNCLAS MEXICO 000430 SIPDIS WHA/MEX: ALEX LEE WHA/MEX: MARY STICKLES DRL/MLGA: KMCGEENEY IO/FO: SNOSSEL G: LSHERMAN S/P: CPOWELL WHA/PPC: PREILLY NEA:IR: SHALLETT IO/HR: GPETELL DRL/NESCA: JHUTCHINGS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MX IR PHUM SUBJECT: Mexico Anticipates Difficult UPR Review for Iran REF: 10 STATE 1218 ¶1. Poloff spoke with Mariana Salazar Albornoz, Director of International, Social, and Cultural Human Rights, February 5 to convey our concern about the human rights situation in Iran and our hope to address those concerns at the upcoming Universal Periodic Review session (UPR) on Iran, which will be held February 15 (Reftel). Poloff underscored that our delegation in Geneva would make an effort to provide meaningful suggestions to Iran, particularly related to the violent incidents that followed the June 12 elections, and that we looked for other states to actively engage in the discussion. ¶2. Salazar welcomed our comments. She noted that Mexico had randomly drawn a slot on the examination troika for Iran, along with Pakistan and Senagal. The Mexican Mission in Geneva has the lead on this issue, though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided assistance with research. Salazar said she would relay our concerns to the Mission's staff. Salazar recalled that Mexico has previously voted in favor of UN resolutions condemning human rights violations by Iran. PASCUAL