ENGAGING THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 000055 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/08 TAGS: PHUM PARM PREL UNSC DR IR SUBJECT: ENGAGING THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS REF: A. STEPHEN MULL E-MAIL OF 2/6/10; B. STATE 9124 ¶C. 09 SANTO DOMINGO 1067 CLASSIFIED BY: Alexander Margulies, ECOPOL Counselor, STATE, ECOPOL; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Pol-Econ Counselor raised the issues of Iran's reluctance to cooperate with international efforts to build confidence and transparency in its nuclear program (Ref B) and its continuing human rights violations, as well as the prospect of increased repression on/about the upcoming anniversary of the Islamic Republic (Ref A) to the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Alejandra Liriano, on 8 February 2010. Liriano commented critically on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's public instruction to Iran's nuclear agency to commence enrichment of uranium and noted that the Dominican Government shares our concerns over human rights in Iran (the Dominican Republic voted "yes" on the UNGA Third Committee Iran Human Rights Resolution). ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso has told us that the Government of the Dominican Republic (GoDR) will support us on Iran issues at the UN and the IAEA (Ref C),and followed through on the last Third Committee Resolution. In previous discussions with Liriano on Iran and other delicate international issues, the Under Secretary explained that the GoDR prefers to act within international bodies, rather than through public statements. Consequently, we do not consider it likely that the GoDR will make any public statements regarding Iran's nuclear or human rights policies, but will continue to stand with us in the UN and IAEA on these issues. END COMMENT. Lambert