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DE RUEHBU #1249/01 2492114
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O 052114Z SEP 08
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1974
INFO RUCNMRC/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0236
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0734

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 001249 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DRL/MLGA ALYSON GRUNDER AND LYNN SICADE 
FOR IO/RHS REBECCA JOVIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA WELCOMES DIALOGUE ON PRIORITIES FOR UNGA 
THIRD COMMITTEE 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 93981 
     ¶B. GOMEZ-GRUNDER 9/4/08 TELCON 
     ¶C. 2007 BUENOS AIRES 1055 
 
¶1. (SBU) Poloff raised ref A points with Minister Silvia 
Fernandez, Director for the Argentine MFA's Office of Human 
Rights on September 5. 
 
No-action motions 
----------------- 
 
Poloff thanked the GOA for voting against all no-action 
motions and voting for country-specific resolutions against 
Belarus, Burma, the DPRK, and Iran in 2007.  She asked 
whether the GOA would do the same this year.  Fernandez 
indicated that the GOA would continue to take a stand against 
all no-motion actions raised in the Third Committee.  She 
also stated that although the GOA does not have instructions 
on country-specific resolutions, in principle, the GOA has 
not changed its position since last year. 
 
Country-specific Resolutions 
---------------------------- 
 
Belarus:  Poloff explained that although the GOB's overall 
human rights record remains very poor, the recent release by 
the GOB of its last political prisoners in August was a 
welcome sign.  She added that if this positive trend 
continues, the USG believes introducing a human rights 
resolution at the UNGA Third Committee this year might be 
counterproductive.  Fernandez stated that Argentina's 
position on Belarus had not changed, but agreed that the 
release of political prisoners was a good sign.  She said 
that Argentina will continue to monitor the situation in 
Belarus, but it must continue positive change for Argentina 
to reconsider its position. 
 
Zimbabwe:  Fernandez stated that Argentina would "wait and 
see" whether negotiations would help resolve the current 
conflict before deciding whether a resolution is warranted. 
 
Sudan:  Fernandez stated that the GOA has not issued formal 
instructions yet, but that in principle, the UN Human Rights 
Council (UNHRC) should renew all Special Rapporteur mandates, 
especially the Sudan's. 
 
Thematic Resolutions 
-------------------- 
 
Freedom of Religion:  Fernandez explained that Argentina 
abstained last year on the "defamation of religions" 
resolution sponsored by the Organization of Islamic 
Countries.  She stated that if the resolution's text is the 
same, Argentina will continue to abstain.  She noted that 
Argentina co-sponsored the EU's Religious Intolerance 
resolution last year, and would do so again this year.  When 
asked if Argentina could work to encourage the EU to 
introduce the resolution in the Third Committee as well as 
the UNHRC, she said the GOA would have to consider the 
matter.  She added that the GOA supports the idea in 
principle, but prefers to avoid the duplication of debate in 
the UNHRC and the Third Committee. 
 
Freedom of Expression:  Fernandez noted that Argentina 
upholds the right to freedom of expression but would have to 
discuss internally to suggest tactics to defend this 
principle at the UN.  She opined that a generic resolution 
condemning states that restrict freedom of expression would 
be "too problematic" and could lead to an "infernal debate" 
over the definition of freedom of expression.  Speaking 
unofficially, she stated that the GOA would "not discard" 
strategies to vote against resolutions that infringe freedom 
of expression rights when they come up at the UN or 
supporting amendments to resolutions to strengthen such 
rights. 
 
Prisoners of Conscience:  Fernandez noted that the GOA did 
not sign the declaration and was studying it.  She said that 
if the Declaration were re-opened to new signatories, the GOA 
would look at the text closely.  She stated that in 
principle, the declaration is a good one, but that there may 
be concerns in the Latin American region over the paragraph 
where countries commit to making the release of prisoners of 
conscience a priority in their relations with other 
countries. 
 
 
BUENOS AIR 00001249  002 OF 002 
 
 
Human Rights Consultations 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Per ref B, poloff told Fernandez that DRL/MLGA would 
be willing to discuss these issues in the coming weeks in 
response to the GOA's interest in holding informal bilateral 
consultations on human rights issues expressed at the July 
senior-level bilateral consultations (ref C).  Poloff relayed 
that DRL/MLGA had held digital video conferences (DVCs) with 
Canada, the EU and Poland to discuss human rights issues with 
positive results.  Fernandez welcomed the idea, saying that 
she is traveling to Geneva to participate in the upcoming 
UNHRC, and a DVC would be a good opportunity to share 
perspectives after the UNHRC session. 
WAYNE