VZCZCXRO8983
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHAT RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMD #0674 1651619
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131619Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4948
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 3468
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0886
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0443

UNCLAS MADRID 000674 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/MLGA (SICADE) AND IO/RHS (OSTERMEIER) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN DISAPPOINTED REGARDING USG UNHRC DECISION 
 
REF: STATE 61034 
 
(SBU) On June 12, Poloff informed the Spanish MFA Director of 
Human Rights, Fernando Fernandez-Arias Minuesa, of the USG 
decision to disengage from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) 
per reftel.  Fernandez-Arias indicated that the GOS was 
disappointed in the decision, but understood USG reasons, and 
indeed shared some of the frustration with the HRC, 
specifically citing the March 2008 amendment to the mandate 
of the Special Rapporteur.  He said, however, that the HRC 
was in its infancy, and as such, it would be premature to 
conclude that it was wholly ineffective.  Fernandez-Arias 
said USG involvement and support in the promotion of human 
rights was critical.  Poloff reiterated the USG's commitment 
to intensify its engagement on human rights protection and 
promotion in other venues, and specifically the General 
Assembly's Third Committee. 
AGUIRRE