AMBASSADOR DELIVERS TOUGH MESSAGE ON CHR CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002680

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CCA, DRL/MLA, IO/SHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU IN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS TOUGH MESSAGE ON CHR CUBA
RESOLUTION

REF: A. NEW DELHI 2186


B. NEW DELHI 2138

C. STATE 49957

Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford, Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) In an April 7 meeting with the MEA Foreign Secretary
Shyam Saran, the Ambassador framed the issue of India's vote
on the Cuba human rights resolution before the UN Human
Rights Commission (ref C) as fuel for those in Washington who
resist USG support for an Indian seat on the UNSC. Saran
reiterated GOI policy not to support "country-specific
resolutions," noting that if the US were similarly targeted,
the GOI stance would be the same. The Ambassador responded
that the GOI's position on this would not cut much ice in
Washington and urged him to reconsider. Countries that want
to be on the UNSC cannot stand aloof to the most important
issues of our time, he underlined.


2. (C) Comment: In our tracking of Cuba in the CHR with
Indian officials at various levels, all have stuck
fastidiously to the GOI line of not supporting country
specific resolutions (refs A, B). New Delhi considers its
exception with respect to apartheid in South Africa a "unique
case" (ref B). This angle may be worth pursuing with Cuba as
well, emphasizing that the GOI has previously departed from
its policy. We will continue to follow up with the MEA.
MULFORD