EL SALVADOR'S RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE FOLLOW-UP

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000087 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM UNGA ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR'S RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE FOLLOW-UP REF: STATE 015722 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials on February 24 to discuss points in reftel, including the Palestinian-drafted resolution and the UN General Assembly vote on Friday, February 26, on the Goldstone Report. MFA representative Egriselda Gonzalez of the Multilateral Affairs Office told Poloff that the MFA was not aware of the upcoming vote and had not seen a draft resolution. ¶2. (SBU) Gonzalez noted that El Salvador previously voted in favor of the resolution in November 2009. In general, she agreed that this matter should be approached in a balanced manner, and that El Salvador concurs in principle with the major points presented in reftel, specifically that the language of the resolution should not be inflammatory or one-sided, that it should not be a matter for the Security Council, and that Israel and Palestine should continue to pursue domestic accountability. ¶3. (SBU) Gonzalez informed Poloff on February 25 that the MFA is seeking a copy of the resolution and must assess the discussion on this matter as it develops before it can inform us about how El Salvador will vote on the issue. BLAU