Cablegate: Costa Rica "More or Less" Favors Us Position On

VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #0937 3072044
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032044Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1373

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000937

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN; IO/HR FOR PAUL KRUCHOWSKI; IO/UNP FOR
ANDREW MORRISON; NEA/IPA FOR JEFFREY GIAUQUE
USUN FOR ELLEN GERMAIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL PREL PHUM PTER CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA "MORE OR LESS" FAVORS US POSITION ON
GOLDSTONE REPORT

REF: SECSTATE 112828

1. (SBU) Costa Rica is "more or less" in agreement with USG
views on the Goldstone Report, according to MFA officials.
The GOCR believes that the international community should
give Israel's justice system the opportunity to conclude its
investigations before recommending any further action be
taken. However, the GOCR suggested that it would be helpful
if a separate resolution was presented as an alternative to
the Arab group proposal. In their view, this might "take
note" of the Goldstone Report and state that the General
Assembly would review the matter again after a certain time
period.

2. (SBU) On November 3 we met with MFA Human Rights and
Security Council officers Adriana Murillo and Guisella
Sanchez to discuss reftel. Murillo said that in light of its
broad concerns over international human rights in general,
the GOCR is very concerned over the events of last winter in
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. However, they believe that
it is far too early to consider any recommendations stemming
from the Goldstone Report, and fully agree that Israel's
justice system must be given time to function. Furthermore,
they did not believe that this was an issue for the UNSC to
take up, as it had already been dealt with by the UNHRC.

3. (SBU) However, Murillo said that in their view some sort
of resolution would be necessary to show that the
international community is interested in this as a human
rights issue, and as a sign of support of Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. She stated that a number
of European countries had spoken to them of the possibility
of a resolution "taking note of the report and then stating
that the General Assembly would revisit the matter after a
certain time period," to give the Israeli justice system time
to continue their investigations. Murillo asked that we pass
along any such alternate resolution to the GOCR if and when
it was available.
WILSON

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