Cablegate: Brazil: December Vote On "Defamation of Religions"
VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBR #1418 3411722
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071722Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0032
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0001
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
UNCLAS BRASILIA 001418
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UN UNGA BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: DECEMBER VOTE ON "DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS"
REF: 09 STATE 122629; A. STATE 109397 B. STATE 111466
1. (SBU) On December 2, poloff delivered reftel demarche to
Glaucia Gauch, head of the Department of Human Rights and Social
Affairs of the Ministry of External Relations (MRE). Poloff
followed up by delivering a copy of the "Defamation of Religions"
non-paper to Nathanael de Souza e Silva who works under Gauch.
Gauch and Silva said that Brazil is in principle against the
"defamation of religions" concept, which the GOB considers to be
inconsistent with both international and Brazilian law, but offered
no explanation as to why Brazil consistently abstains when the
issue comes up in the UN.
2. (SBU) Comment: Brazil's abstentions are most likely in
deference to the OIC.
KUBISKE