Cablegate: Chile Demarched On Iran's Universal Periodic Review at Un

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DE RUEHSG #0106 0292011
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O R 292010Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0635
INFO RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN UNHRC IR CI
SUBJECT: Chile Demarched on Iran's Universal Periodic Review at UN
Human Rights Council

REF: 10 STATE 7242

1. (SBU) On January 28, poloff delivered reftel demarche to
Ambassador Carmen Hertz, Director of the Office of Human Rights at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Gerardo Ateaga, Deputy
Director. Amb. Hertz said that Chile's representative to the UN
Human Rights Council, Amb. Carlos Portales, would no doubt be
submitting written recommendations and suggestions before the Feb.
1 deadline, although she did not offer specifics.

2. (SBU) She said that Iran's human rights abuses were always
"worrisome" to Chile, especially torture, the treatment of women
and religious minorities (such as the Baha'i), the lack of
religious freedom, and death penalty for minor offenses, which
Ateaga noted is sometimes used against activists. Both Hertz and
Ateaga agreed with the United States' plan to urge Iran to finalize
the visit of a delegation from the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights.

Special Session on Haiti

3. (SBU) Amb. Hertz pointed out that Chile supported the special
session on Haiti of the Human Rights Council. Hertz and Ateaga
said they both supported deferring the universal periodic review on
Haiti, since Haiti would not be able to prepare for it.
URBAN

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