VZCZCXRO4014
OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT
RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHBO #4194 3261452
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211452Z NOV 08 ZDK ZUI USUN SVC MISSING MCN
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5679
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1561
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1959
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS BOGOTA 004194
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE, ALYSON GRUNDER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA TO OPPOSE IRAN NO ACTION MOTION ON HUMAN
RIGHTS IN UN THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: A. STATE 118278
B. BOGOTA 4120
1. (SBU) On November 12 and 13, Post delivered all points in
reftel to Director of U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia
Cortes and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Adriana Mejia,
urging a review of previous GOC policy to abstain on no
action motions. Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Adriana
Mejia told us on November 20 that the GOC would oppose the
Iran and other no action motions on specific country human
rights resolutions in UN Third Committee.
2. (SBU) Mejia said the GOC decision--taken only after a
difficult analysis by Foreign Minister Jaime
Bermudez--represented a major departure from Colombia's
traditional policy of abstention on no action motions.
Colombia made the change to be more consistent with its own
position of openness towards international scrutiny on human
rights issues. Mejia said the GOC took the decision knowing
that Colombia may face a serious risk of retaliation from
Iran and others as a result of the policy change.
BROWNFIELD