VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4723 2802150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 072130Z OCT 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 104723 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA PREL
SUBJECT: BRAZIL'S UNGA PRIORITIES: A/S BRIMMER'S SEPTEMBER 
24 MEETING WITH BRAZILIAN DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CARLOS DUARTE 
 
¶1. SUMMARY. IO Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer met with 
Brazilian Director-General for International Organizations 
Carlos Duarte on September 24 to discuss a wide range of 
multilateral issues, including peacekeeping, human rights, 
the Alliance of Civilizations, Brazil's non-permanent seat on 
the UN Security Council (UNSC), and UNSC reform.  Duarte also 
mentioned the closed-door UNSC consultations on Brazil's 
letter concerning the situation in Honduras.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Honduras 
-------- 
 
¶2. Duarte mentioned the closed-door consultations of the 
UNSC, scheduled for September 25, to express Brazil's concern 
for the physical security of their embassy in Tegucigalpa. 
As of September 24, there had been no violations of the 
space, and the de-facto government had restored water and 
electricity the previous day.  Duarte was looking forward to 
UNSC discussions moving into an open session format in which 
Brazil could participate. 
 
------------------- 
Human Rights Issues 
------------------- 
 
¶3. A/S Brimmer expressed hope that the United States could 
bridge gaps in the Human Rights Council (HRC), citing our 
seeking consensus on the freedom of expression resolution and 
expressing our appreciation for Brazil's support.  Duarte 
expressed the hope that the resolution would be adopted. 
 
¶4. (SBU) A/S Brimmer expressed our hope that continued 
discussions on the Goldstone report would remain in the HRC 
and not in other bodies as mentioned in the report.  The 
United States has planned to run a resolution to continue the 
process in the HRC, as delegations still needed time to 
review and digest the lengthy report.  Duarte said that this 
matter was not part of his direct portfolio, but noted that 
the report was part of broader issues with "significant 
policy implications."  Brazil would study the report 
carefully, but he was not sure what sort of follow-up would 
be warranted or necessary. 
 
¶5. (SBU) On the Third Committee, A/S Brimmer noted that 
Brazil abstained on the Iran no-action motion last year, and 
asked Brazil to vote "no" this year.  Duarte said that he 
would convey this view to the person in charge of human 
rights in the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying 
that there is a "delicate balance to strike." 
 
¶6. A/S Brimmer also mentioned the possibility that other 
member states would invoke the Durban II anti-racism 
conference.  She warned against having to re-fight the 
argument and asked for Brazil's help to find language to move 
past Durban II in future HRC documents. 
 
----------------------- 
Brazil and Peacekeeping 
----------------------- 
 
¶7. A/S Brimmer acknowledged Brazil's contributions to Haiti, 
noting that Haiti remained a high U.S. priority.  Duarte said 
that MINUSTAH was important to Brazil, and both he and A/S 
Brimmer noted that the reduction of troops in favor of an 
increased number of police was an auspicious trend. 
Strengthening Haiti's police force was a major challenge, and 
Brazil was engaged in training Haitian troops, Duarte 
commented.  Brazil had also increased the number of army 
engineers and had cooperated with Haiti bilaterally, as well. 
 For example, Brazil was building a dam to provide 
electricity to Port Au Prince.  Duarte said that President 
Bill Clinton's appointment as special envoy for Haiti raised 
awareness, and Duarte expressed pleasure that the most recent 
donors conference raised $150 million.  Brazil was now 
looking at the mandate renewal, which he believed could be an 
area where Brazil and the United States showed similar views 
and can collaborate. 
 
------------------------- 
Alliance of Civilizations 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. Brazil expects to host the third meeting of the Alliance 
of Civilizations (AOC) in May 2010, Duarte remarked, and 
hoped that the United States would participate.  A/S Brimmer 
said that the United States might do so, as the United States 
hoped that Brazil, as host, would embrace a wider perspective 
and a truly global range of issues.  Duarte said that Brazil 
was glad to be taking a prominent role, and had appointed a 
special envoy at the ambassadorial level, whom he suggested 
IO should meet prior to the meeting.  (NOTE:  IO/UNP staff 
met with the special envoy on the margins of the September 26 
Alliance of Civilizations breakfast at the UNGA.  END NOTE.) 
 
-------------------------------- 
Brazil's Non-Permanent UNSC Seat 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶9. Presuming election in the upcoming uncontested race, 
Duarte said that Brazil's non-permanent UNSC seat for the 
2010 - 2011 term will be a good opportunity to be directly 
involved in UNSC agenda items and will stimulate Brazil's 
involvement in peacekeeping in general.  This will also take 
Brazil to the center stage of other important political 
issues.  He is looking forward to consultations at the 
Department of State after their election and before taking 
their seat in order to talk about issues on which Brazil can 
take a leadership role. 
 
-------------------------- 
UN Security Council Reform 
-------------------------- 
 
¶10. Duarte said that he appreciated the smooth transition of 
intergovernmental negotiations from the 63rd to the 64th 
sessions of the UN General Assembly, as he believed that 
informal UNGA plenary sessions were the most appropriate 
forum in which to move closer to a decision on UNSC 
expansion, and a great improvement over the Open Ended 
Working Group.  He noted that there were no changes in the 
main positions but hoped that in subsequent sessions member 
states would be able to narrow down the discussion.  Duarte 
believed that the results of the U.S. policy review would be 
key to any movement on the issue, as Brazil was eager to 
"push the issue forward within the general context of the 
evolution in international relations and the aspiration of 
other nations to larger roles in multilateral diplomacy." 
CLINTON