Cablegate: Spain: Rights of Indigenous Peoples

VZCZCXRO0584
PP RUEHAST
DE RUEHMD #2622 2891659
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161659Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1050
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2152
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0224

UNCLAS MADRID 002622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DRL/MLGA FOR LYNN SICADE
L/HRR FOR EVELYN ASWAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIA UN SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

REF: STATE 169257

1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche and non-papers to
Spanish MFA Deputy Office Director for Human Rights Cecilia
Robles Cartes on August 13. Robles said that she understood
the tripartite position on the HRC's text for the
declaration, but she indicated that Spain would support the
declaration. Robles said that Spain has been involved in the
drafting process since it began 11 years ago. The Spanish
feel it is important to have a declaration, even if it is not
perfect. Robles said that the declaration has come a long
way from its starting point, with significant improvements
over previous drafts.

2. (SBU) Robles said that Spain would prefer to see the
declaration receive a consensus approval, noting that it now
appears that this will not be possible. She characterized
some of the U.S. criticisms as over-interpretations, and she
noted that Latin America would not be supporting the text if
it thought U.S. concerns were sound. Poloff asked her to
consider the non-papers. Australia and New Zealand have not
approached the MFA on the topic since the HRC vote.

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Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
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AGUIRRE

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