Cablegate: Argentina Will Be Active in 2009 Third Committee; Likely

VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1187 3071028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031028Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4560
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0315

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001187

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIP AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA WILL BE ACTIVE IN 2009 THIRD COMMITTEE; LIKELY
SUPPORTIVE ON SEVERAL U.S. PRIORITIES

REFS: A) SECSTATE 108921
B) BUENOS AIRES 1039

1. (SBU) Political Officer delivered Ref A demarche October 29 to
Carolina Bustos of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations
Office of International Organizations (DIOIN). Regarding
country-specific resolutions, Bustos said that Argentine policy was
also to oppose "no-action motions." She was interested in the U.S.
position on the Defamation of Religions resolution, and noted that
Argentina "had trouble" with the resolution, including its heavy
focus on Islam. She noted that Argentina's conception of human
rights was also rooted in a belief that individuals rather than
groups were the holders of rights.

2. (SBU) Bustos said that the GOA was putting great emphasis on
gender issues and would likely be very interested in the resolution
co-sponsored by the United States, Mexico and Colombia on the
elimination of discrimination against women. She appreciated U.S.
efforts to address issues related to the GRULAC/EU-sponsored
resolution on the Rights of the Child.

3. (SBU) Turning to Argentine priorities, Bustos said that Argentina
would be developing a resolution with partners on
trafficking-in-persons. She said it would endorse a regional plan
emerging from an OAS-sponsored TIP conference earlier this year in
Buenos Aires and that it would develop a focus on the "clients" and
"users" of trafficked persons.

4. (SBU) Other Third Committee priorities for Argentina included
building support for the Argentina-sponsored Convention for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. (Note:
Argentine Foreign Minister Taiana requested U.S. signature on this
instrument in a diplomatic note dated September 10, 2009, per ref
B). They were also considering a resolution endorsing the work of
the Argentine civilian response mechanism, Cascos Blancos (White
Helmets).

MARTINEZ

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