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