US embassy cable - 04SANTODOMINGO2440

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002440 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR FOR MCISAAC AND IO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2009 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL 
SUBJECT: GODR WILL VOTE WITH USG ON CUBA/GUANTANAMO BAY 
RESOLUTION IN UNCHR 
 
REF: A. STATE 87283 
     B. STATE 85231 
     C. SANTO DOMINGO 02386 
     D. SANTO DOMINGO 02318 
 
Classified By: Charge Lisa B. Kubiske, reason 1.4(d). 
 
1.  SUMMARY.  (C)  President Mejia told the Ambassador on 
April 20, that the GODR would vote with the USG against the 
UNCHR Cuban sponsored resolution condemning U.S. detainee 
policy at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.  If the German sponsored 
procedural motion to adjourn the Cuba/Guantanamo Bay 
resolution is made, the GODR will vote for the procedural 
motion to adjourn.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  Charge delivered reftel A and B talking points to 
GODR Foreign Minister Francisco Guerrero Prats on April 20th. 
 Charge thanked Foreign Minister Guerrero Prats for the GODR 
vote on April 15, condemning human rights abuses in Cuba and 
asked for the GODR "no" vote on the resolution Cuba has 
tabled condemning the U.S. detainee policy for Guantanamo 
Bay.  Foreign Minster Prats said he would confer with the 
GODR delegation in Geneva, study the resolution and take the 
issue to President Mejia for a final decision. 
 
3.  (C)  In anticipation of Foreign Minister Prats' call on 
President Mejia, the Ambassador called the President on April 
20 (from Washington, where the Ambassador is attending 
consultations).  President Mejia told the Ambassador that the 
GODR would vote with the USG against the Cuba/Guantanamo Bay 
resolution or for the German procedural motion to adjourn the 
Cuba/Guantanamo Bay resolution. 
 
4.  (C)  During Charge's conversation with Foreign Minister 
Prats, he told her that the passage of last week's resolution 
condemning human rights abuses in Cuba did not deprive Cuba 
of its sovereignty and that the Cubans, "always overreact." 
Foreign Minister Prats told the Charge that he would speak 
with the GODR delegation in Geneva about the Cuba/Guantanamo 
Bay resolution and then take the matter to President Mejia. 
 
5.  (C)  COMMENT.  The decision of President Mejia to 
instruct the GODR to vote with the U.S. on this important 
issue is another example of the very close collaboration 
between our two governments.  To date there has been no 
public backlash based on the GODR's vote for the April 15th 
resolution condemning Cuba for human rights abuses, 
nevertheless, President Mejia believes the decision to stick 
with the USG on this issue will cost him politically (reftel 
D).  If so, the backlash would come after the Cuba/Guantanamo 
Bay vote on April 21.  END COMMENT. 
KUBISKE