REES DELIVERS UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 002558 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UN IN SUBJECT: REES DELIVERS UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES, MEETS UN AGENCIES REF: STATE 095334 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On September 5, visiting Special Representative for Social Issues Grover Joseph Rees delivered reftel points to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary (UN - Economic and Social) Manjeev Singh Puri. Puri took all points on board; periodically rejoined by underscoring Indian sensitivities vis--vis freedoms of expression, sovereignty and other NAM themes; and urged the United States to reconsider its involvement with the UN Human Rights Council. Special Representative Rees also touched upon India's leadership role in the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) and expressed USG disappointment with India's unhelpful role in the Community of Democracies. ¶2. (SBU) Rees also met with UN agencies based in New Delhi and constituent UN offices in Pune. He conducted a number of site visits throughout India to review the plight of vulnerable women, children and other oppressed groups and to assess the effectiveness of UN-supported programs and activities to protect and assist members of these groups. End Summary. -------------- No-Action Motions -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Rees opened his meeting with JS Puri by noting that, in terms of shared values and on numerous political issues, there is no country that the United States tends to agree more with than India. However, the low voting coincidence at the UN must be examined. Rees underscored that, in our efforts to promote human rights, the United States wants to take a principled stand against all no-action motions and to permit full and open debate on the merits of the serious human rights issues that are raised in thematic and country-specific human rights resolutions. Puri responded that, "if you and I are willing to talk straight, then all country-specific resolutions are purely political." Puri suggested that the United States' judgment of what is right or wrong, versus the judgment of any other third country, is the result of politics. "Half the world doesn't think as you think - don't say you are on the side of right." Puri noted that no-action motions are largely procedural and it is not possible, from his perspective, to de-link the political component. -------------- Country-Specific Resolutions -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Rees reviewed the USG position on a number of country-specific resolutions: On Belarus, Rees said the U.S. welcomes the recent release of political prisoners by Minsk in August. He explained that, as in previous years, the U.S. will strongly support a resolution to be offered by Canada on the situation of human rights in Iran and will work with other countries to win its passage. Rees pressed that the situation in Burma is disintegrating and, while the international community wants to be helpful, we cannot ignore the human rights situation. Rees said that the USG understands the EU plans to offer its annual resolution on the abysmal human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Finally, Rees pressed that the human rights situations in Sudan and Zimbabwe both merit Third Committee attention and invited Puri,s views. Unless current negotiations produce a result that respects the March 29 polling and brings real change to the human rights situation, the U.S. believes that, depending on how circumstances in Zimbabwe develop in the coming weeks, a resolution on Zimbabwe might be useful toward a resolution of the crisis. Recognizing that the Sudan human rights situation remains dire, Rees noted that offering resolutions on both Zimbabwe and Sudan in the 2008 Third Committee could be problematic and potentially counterproductive. ¶5. (SBU) Puri said that the GOI would consider all of the USG's points, but noted that the GOI "takes each resolution on a case-by-case basis." As a general policy, Puri explained, India does not favor country-specific resolutions. Turning first to Burma, Puri noted that the GOI has consistently believed that interaction and engagement is more useful and productive than sanctions or isolation. Moving to Sudan, Puri noted that an argument that Third Committee consideration of the situation there is not needed since the matter also lay before the Security Council was dismissive of the General Assembly's status. Puri continued that there are 54 countries in Africa, 10 of which "want to show up Mr. Mugabe" and about 45 that do not. While acknowledging the NEW DELHI 00002558 002 OF 003 merit of Rees's points on Zimbabwe and Sudan, Puri said that the GOI position (vis--vis the African countries) is unlikely to change much. Zimbabwe, Puri said, is conscious of what the world is saying and doing. Finally, circling back to Iran, Puri noted that "it is a difficult case" and acknowledged that India understands the USG position. (Note: Puri had traveled to Iran the previous month. End Note.) -------------- Thematic Resolutions -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Rees noted that India was very helpful with the recent resolution in the UN Human Rights Council renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression resolution, even withdrawing its co-sponsorship after the resolution was amended to require that the Rapporteur report on "abuses" of freedom of expression by individuals. Puri countered that India looks at this resolution very differently and views it in the context of India's diverse, complex society that is hugely pluralistic and often volatile. In India, Puri explained, "we're very careful and err on the side of being conservative." Rees rejoined that the Defamation of Religion resolutions sponsored by Pakistan have been used by some countries to justify undermining the freedoms of expression, religion and belief. Puri said that India had very little problem with the idea of a freedom of expression resolution, but India must be careful not to do anything that would be (domestically) provocative. He illustrated his point by raising Solomon Rushdie,s banned books and, when Rushdie visits India, he'll "do things that'll have an impact. Why do his rights trample on the rights of others? We are 60 years into our democracy and each little sector feels that their rights are important." -------------- Human Rights Council -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Turning to the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Human Rights Council (HRC),Puri urged the United States to reconsider its engagement with the UN. "In our view, non-active engagement, particularly on human rights, doesn't make sense." Puri asserted that the HRC needs the United States and pressed Rees to encourage the USG to reconsider its role as a pillar of the UN community. Rees rejoined that the USG finds the HRC to be counter-productive and myopic in its zeal to focus only on Israel. -------------- APDP -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Rees thanked the GOI for its involvement with the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP),including India's support with the Mongolian elections. In October, Rees said, it is hoped that India could send a senior official to participate in a meeting in the region - perhaps South Korea - as well as play a stronger leadership role in APDP. Puri took copious notes and promised to pass along the suggestion to his colleague (Joint Secretary Sanjeev Arora) who is the primary GOI liaison for APDP. -------------- Community of Democracies -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Rees noted that, in the Community of Democracies, everything is done by consensus. However, in recent history, there are three proposed joint statements of the CD Convening Group - on Zimbabwe, Mauritania, and Georgia - to which India (sometimes joined by South Africa) would not agree. Puri again took down notes, commented that the CD was a great idea and while India would like to work together, JS Arora was the more appropriate point of contact. Puri promised to pass his notes to Arora immediately upon his return to Delhi. -------------- Other Meetings in India -------------- ¶10. (SBU) In addition to meeting with the GOI, Rees met with UNICEF Country Representative Karin Hulshof and discussed the catastrophic floods in Bihar, progress in inoculating children against polio, and the status of other at-risk children in India. The Media Coalition and UNIFEM hosted a lunch for Special Envoy Rees in which they addressed the needs of vulnerable women and girls, especially those who are trafficked or otherwise exploited. Rees conducted a site NEW DELHI 00002558 003 OF 003 visit at Shakti Shalini Shelter for vulnerable women and girls, Shakti Vahini's site which works with trafficking survivors, and Breakthrough, an NGO that works on domestic abuse and HIV/AIDS. He also traveled extensively with UNIFEM and UNICEF branch offices in Pune and surrounding areas. ¶11. (U) Special Representative Grover Joseph Rees cleared this cable. WHITE