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