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