INDIA NOT AVERSE TO HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 004934 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015 TAGS: PREL KUNR PHUM IN SUBJECT: INDIA NOT AVERSE TO HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL PROPOSAL REF: A. STATE 119812 ¶B. NEW DELHI 3973 Classified By: Charge Bob Blake, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) On June 29, Charge reviewed Ref A points with MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) Hamid Ali Rao, emphasizing that at this early stage in the discussions, the US would like other countries to avoid making preemptive negative statements about the proposed Human Rights Council (HRC). Noting that India's UN voting record had come under scrutiny in Washington in the context of UNSC expansion discussions, the Charge told Rao that the USG hoped New Delhi would adopt a more forward-leaning stance in promoting and protecting human rights and democracy. The US and India hoped to announce a joint Democracy Initiative during PM Manmohan Singh's July 18 trip to Washington, and it was important in this context for India to be making positive remarks about the HRC. Charge specifically asked that the MEA be sure India's UN Mission has the appropriate positive instructions. ¶2. (C) Rao responded that the GOI had not altered its position on the proposed HRC since the May 26 visit of S/UNR Ambassador Tahir-Kheli (Ref B); namely that India is open to suggestions for reforming UN human rights bodies, but has not taken a position on what the outcome should be. He undertook to verify that India's PermRep and other delegation members would not make any contradictory statements in the upcoming open discussions in New York. Rao emphasized that India has been "very engaged" on UN human rights reform and has a "positive outlook," adding that the GOI is also very committed to seeing its Democracy Initiative proposal succeed. BLAKE