Cablegate: Argentina: Formal Request for U.S. Signature On Convention

VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1039 2601934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171934Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4353
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0312

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001039

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA PGOV AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FORMAL REQUEST FOR U.S. SIGNATURE ON CONVENTION
FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL PERSONS FROM ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

1. Embassy received via Diplomatic Note a letter dated September 10
from Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Taiana to Secretary
Clinton in which Argentina requests U.S. support for the
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearances. Taiana requests that we sign or announce
our intention to sign the instrument at the United Nations General
Assembly. Embassy translation of the letter from Spanish follows in
paragraph two.

2. Begin Text

BUENOS AIRES, September 10, 2009

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I have the pleasure of writing to you regarding the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearances, which Argentina attaches great importance.

The Convention, which was adopted by a consensus of the United
Nations General Assembly in 2006, is the result of twenty-five years
of constant efforts by international human rights movements and
several years of systematic work on the part of the international
community. It is the first binding, universal legal instrument
dedicated entirely to this topic, which acknowledges, among other
things, that the widespread or systematic practice of forced
disappearances may constitute a crime against humanity, and
reaffirms the victim's rights to reparations, justice and the truth.
This Convention filled a gap in international rights protection by
preventing violations of human rights and establishing States'
obligations to investigate and punish those found responsible.

My country was one of the principal advocates for this initiative
and has actively participated in the negotiations that led to the
adoption of this instrument. This advocacy stems from our own
experience of massive violations of human rights that occurred
between 1976 and 1983.

Argentina recognizes the constructive participation of the United
States of America during the negotiations of the abovementioned
international convention.

We hope that your government favorably considers becoming a Party to
this Convention and signs the instrument, or at least announces its
intention to do so in the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
The addition of the United States to the Convention's group of
signatory states would provide a critical impulse towards making
this instrument enter into force.

With the assurances of my highest consideration.

Jorge E. Taiana
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship

End Text.

3. Embassy will provide Spanish language text to WHA/BSC.

KELLY

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