VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBU #1330 3412222
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 072221Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0155
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0003
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001330
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA PHUM AR UN
SUBJECT: Argentina: Reconsidering UNGA Resolution on Defamation of
Religion
REF: STATE 122641
1. Per Reftel, poloff raised with the Argentine Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) the annual Defamation of Religions resolution likely
to come to a vote the week of December 7 in the UN General Assembly
plenary. Silvia Cao of the MFA's Human Rights office understood
the USG position that only people can be defamed, not religions,
and agreed that such a resolution would hamper freedom of speech.
She also recognized that many Latin American countries have altered
their position on the issue recently. Cao agreed to raise the
issue to a higher level in the Foreign Ministry and will advise
post if the Foreign Ministry agrees to shift from the Government of
Argentina's customary abstention on the issue.
MARTINEZ