Cablegate: Nicaragua: Unga 63 Third Committee Human Rights

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DE RUEHMU #1146/01 2541426
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O 101426Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3138
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001146

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/RHS JOVIN
DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA SICADE
STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC CARDENAS AND BATTLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN UNGA NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: UNGA 63 THIRD COMMITTEE HUMAN RIGHTS
DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: A. SECSTATE 93981
B. MANAGUA 1072

Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)

1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 8, 2008 we met with Rene
Morales, Director for American Affairs and Gregorio Torres
from the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry regarding the human
rights agenda for the 63rd UN General Assembly (UNGA) Third
Committee and delivered the points as instructed per REF A.
Morales could not tell us how Nicaragua might vote on
potential Third Committee human rights resolutions, but
confirmed that Nicaragua's Third Committee votes are
"political" and that President Daniel Ortega ultimately
directs the votes of Nicaragua's delegation. Morales further
stated that Dr. Magda Enriquez, the senior advisor for UNGA
president-elect Miguel D'Escoto (REF B), will continue to
hold her Foreign Ministry position as Director General for
International Organizations and, as such, would remain the
point of contact for GON votes. Torres and Morales provided
information about the Nicaraguan official team selected to
assist incoming UNGA president D'Escoto. The names of the
GON officials who will travel to New York to see D'Escoto
installed will be reported SEPTEL. END SUMMARY

GON HUMAN RIGHTS VOTING RECORD HAS GONE 180
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2. (C) Morales, a career diplomat, was visibly uncomfortable
as we reviewed the change between 2006 and 2007 in
Nicaragua's UNGA voting record on human rights. (NOTE:
Before Ortega's re-election, Nicaragua voted with the United
States in 2006 UNGA Third Committee human rights votes to
defeat no-action motions against Belarus, Burma, Iran,
Uzbekistan, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, and later to approve
resolutions against Belarus, Burma, DPRK and Iran. END NOTE)
Under the Ortega government there has been a complete
180-degree turn. In 2007, Nicaragua's UNGA delegation voted
completely opposite to the United States, supporting
no-action motions for Belarus, Burma and Iran and then later
voting against resolutions to condemn Iran and Belarus for
their human rights violations which were subsequently
approved in the plenary session of the General Assembly.

NO CHANGE LIKELY FOR UNGA 63
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3. (C) Morales would not comment on what Nicaragua's position
might be for the upcoming 63rd UNGA for any of the issues
expected in the Third Committee. However, she indicated that
a similar voting pattern was likely because "Nicaragua's
votes in the UNGA are political - President Ortega himself
tells Nicaragua's delegation how to vote." Morales added
that Dr. Magda Enriquez, who has been named as senior advisor
for incoming UNGA President D'Escoto (REF B), would also
retain her current Foreign Ministry position as Director
General for International Organizations. As such, Morales
noted that "any questions about GON positions or Nicaragua
UNGA votes should be addressed directly to Enriquez."

D'ESCOTO'S NICARAGUA TEAM
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4. (SBU) At the close of the meeting Torres directed us to
the Nicaragua Foreign Ministry's website for a list of the of
Nicaraguan Team supporting UNGA President-elect Miguel
D'Escoto. The eight individuals (and their titles) as they
appear on the website, include:

Norman Miranda, Chief of Staff, mirandan@un.org

Magda Enriquez Beitler, Senior Advisor,
enriquez-beitler@un.org

Sofia Clark, Deputy Chief of Cabinet, clarks@un.org

Eduardo Mangas, Deputy Chief of Cabinet, mangas@un.org

Barbara Omeir, Special Assistant to the President,
omeir@un.org

Manual Gutierrez, Special Assistant to the President

Carolina Nazzaro, Communications Official, nazzaro@un.org

Alexander Stynze Smith, Assistant

5. (SBU) Our discussion regarding the Official Nicaragua
delegation to UNGA will be reported SEPTEL.
CALLAHAN

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