41. Telegram From the Department of State to the United States Mission to the United Nations at Geneva1
25604. Subject: UN Human Rights Commission: Latin America.
1. (C—Entire text.)
2. As usual at recent HRC sessions, several Latin American countries will be considered in public and private meetings. Thus Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador and Guatemala are scheduled for public discussion, and all four of these countries plus Argentina, Haiti, Paraguay and Uruguay are scheduled for consideration under the HRC’s confidential procedures. Furthermore, the report and future role of the HRC’s Working Group on Missing and Disappeared Persons, which is of particular interest to Argentina, will be considered.2 Of course countries in other parts of the world will also be considered, but this cable concerns especially Latin America.
3. In general terms USDel should not take the lead on these Latin American items, but should coordinate closely with WEO group with the expectation of following the WEO consensus. We want to avoid seeming to pick out Latin America for special opprobrium in view of serious human rights situations in other parts of the world. Often [Page 122] human rights abuses in the countries listed in para 2 are on a lesser scale than abuses in countries whose situations are not scheduled for individual consideration or have not received the same level of attention as some Latin American countries. On the other hand, we do not anticipate trying to oppose such concern as other WEO members have about Latin American issues (except in case of El Salvador).
4. Department is preparing detailed U.S. position on consideration of each of these countries under HRC procedures. Bolivia may be somewhat of an exception to general rule in that we might want to take a forward position in support of Andean countries, though procedurally disposition of the Bolivian case may be simple, since all the HRC need do is accept Bolivia’s invitation to send a delegation to visit that country.
5. If progress on any constructive initiative appears stalled because of WEO reluctance to take lead, USDel should seek further instruction.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D810047–0096. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Shaft; cleared in ARA and HA; approved by Newlin. Sent priority for information to all American Republic diplomatic posts. Sent for information to USUN New York.↩
- See Document 47.↩