US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION802

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000802 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KUNR, AORC, PA, UNSC 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY ON UN REFORM 
 
REF: A. STATE 111657 
 
     B. STATE 111637 
     C. STATE 114051 
 
1.  On June 22, Charge met with Vice Minister of Foreign 
Relations, Ambassador Jose Martinez Lezcano to discuss UN 
Reform.   Ambassador Martinez remarked that Paraguay strongly 
supports UN reform and agrees that reforms must go far beyond 
expanding the Security Council.  Responding to reftel points, 
he said the GOP supports broad initiatives on development, 
the democracy fund, and administrative reform. 
 
Counterterrorism Convention 
--------------------------- 
 
2.  Martinez agreed with the USG on the need for a 
comprehensive convention on terrorism.  He noted that the GOP 
is committed to working to combat terrorism as exhibited by 
the adoption of all of the outstanding protocols against 
terrorism last December.  He mentioned that GOP officials are 
working within an interministerial committee on 
counterterrorism legislation still needed to comply with UNSC 
requirement. 
 
Commission on Human Rights 
------------------------- 
 
3.  Martinez said Paraguay agrees with the USG diagnosis of 
what is wrong with the Human Rights Commission.  He mentioned 
that Paraguay would align itself with Mercosur, in supporting 
specific remedies for this problem, however, adding that 
Mercosur's analysis of this issue is just beginning.  He 
expressed some concern about Brazil's decision making on 
human rights, noting that the Lula appointee working the 
issue was a long-term Communist with outdated, ideological 
approaches. 
 
Security Council Reform 
----------------------- 
 
4.  Ambassador Martinez reiterated several points MFA 
officials previously passed as a non-paper on Security 
Council Reform including the following: 
 
--  in its current form, equalized representation for Latin 
America and other continents is impossible; 
 
--  UNSC should be enlarged with addition of greater number 
of permanent and non permanent members evenly distributed 
geographically, including more Latin American countries, 
Germany and Japan; 
 
--  Paraguay supports Brazil's bid for permanent Security 
Council seat; 
 
--  agreement should be reached by consensus prior to the 
High-level meetings in September 2005. 
 
 
KEANE