UNCHR61 CUBA DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO INDIA AND BHUTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002186

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA, DRL/MLA, IO/SHA, AND SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2015
TAGS: PHUM CU IN BT
SUBJECT: UNCHR61 CUBA DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO INDIA AND BHUTAN

REF: STATE 49957

Classified By: DCM Robert O. Blake for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) On 21 March, Poloff delivered Reftel demarche to
Indian MEA Deputy Secretary (UN Economic and Social) Gopal
Baglay and Bhutanese Embassy First Secretary Karma Rinchhen,
reiterating our interest in this year's Cuba resolution.


2. (C) Baglay responded that the GOI has no official
response to the proposed Cuba resolution, but reiterated
India's well-known opposition to country-specific
resolutions. He promised to convey the USG position to his
superiors. Post will follow up on this issue at more senior
levels.


3. (C) After Poloff expressed appreciation for Bhutan's
abstention last year, which enabled passage of the Cuba
resolution, Rinchhen replied that he had no response from his
government on its plans for voting this year, but pledged to
forward our points to Thimphu.


4. (C) Comment: We will need to consider carefully the
timing for a more senior approach to New Delhi on the Cuba
resolution, bearing in mind the likely mid-April visit to
Washington by Foreign Minister Singh. In this context, we
would appreciate further Department guidance on the likely
timing of the Cuba vote. On Bhutan, we will wait to hear
from Thimphu on whether the RGOB will stick with its
abstention (which we were told the Cubans bitterly attacked).
As in 2004, a Washington-level approach to the Bhutanese
Foreign Ministry may be necessary to keep the RGOB on our
side.
MULFORD