Chile Demarched on Iran's Universal Periodic Review at UN

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000106 SENSITIVE SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UN UNHRC IR CI SUBJECT: Chile Demarched on Iran's Universal Periodic Review at UN Human Rights Council REF: 10 STATE 7242 ¶1. (SBU) On January 28, poloff delivered reftel demarche to Ambassador Carmen Hertz, Director of the Office of Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Gerardo Ateaga, Deputy Director. Amb. Hertz said that Chile's representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Amb. Carlos Portales, would no doubt be submitting written recommendations and suggestions before the Feb. 1 deadline, although she did not offer specifics. ¶2. (SBU) She said that Iran's human rights abuses were always "worrisome" to Chile, especially torture, the treatment of women and religious minorities (such as the Baha'i),the lack of religious freedom, and death penalty for minor offenses, which Ateaga noted is sometimes used against activists. Both Hertz and Ateaga agreed with the United States' plan to urge Iran to finalize the visit of a delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Special Session on Haiti ¶3. (SBU) Amb. Hertz pointed out that Chile supported the special session on Haiti of the Human Rights Council. Hertz and Ateaga said they both supported deferring the universal periodic review on Haiti, since Haiti would not be able to prepare for it. URBAN