GOI UNAPOLOGETIC ON DARFUR NO ACTION VOTE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 007674

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF IN CH UN
SUBJECT: GOI UNAPOLOGETIC ON DARFUR NO ACTION VOTE,
WELCOMES CLOSER CONSULTATIONS ON "PROBLEM CHILDREN"

Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt, Reasons 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) SA/INS Director Blake and Polcouns used a December 2
meeting with MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar to
convey our disappointment at the recent GOI vote at the UN in
favor of "no action" on the resolution concerning the plight
of refugees in Darfur. Polcouns also urged further efforts to
synchronize our approaches to multilateral human rights
issues.


2. (C) Jaishankar was unapologetic about the vote, but
agreed that more intensive consultations between New Delhi
and Washington on such issues would be beneficial, suggesting
that this dialogue be included in the next meeting of the
U.S.-India Global Issues Forum in early 2005. Jaishankar
then warned that on some issues, such as Burma, Sudan and
Iran, diverging strategic interests would lead New Delhi to
dissent from Washington's approach. He commented that
"sometimes principles must be tempered when larger issues are
at stake," referring to the large capital investment the
Indian Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh (OVL) has in
Sudan and India's fast rising demand for energy.


3. (C) Jaishankar described Burma, Sudan and Iran as the
"three problem children" in our relationship, and agreed that
the GOI and USG should clearly communicate their respective
interests and policies concerning these countries. For
instance, he noted that New Delhi has a clear idea of U.S.
"redlines" in these countries, but the same might not be true
of Washington. He added, that if the U.S. knew the stakes
the GOI has in Sudan the U.S. might better understand India's
approach. Although the U.S. and India often have different
objectives when conducting bilateral relations with these
three countries, both would benefit by sharing views and
ideas. Jaishankar and Blake agreed that it would be a good
idea to have DAS/Joint Secretary level trips to each capital
to discuss these issues.


4. (C) Reflecting on our increasingly substantive regional
dialogue, he noted that sometimes regional bureaus in both
bureaucracies appear reluctant to add a bilateral U.S.-India
dimension to discussions that could complicate Indian or U.S.
diplomacy. He cited the example of the U.S. presentation on
China at the recent Foreign Office Consultations, which the
GOI found unrealistically sanguine about the
Washington/Beijing relationship and Chinese intentions.


5. (U) SA/INS Office Director Blake has cleared this cable.
MULFORD