INDIAN VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 12TH SESSION

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001947 SENSITIVE C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDING SENSITIVE CAPTION SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHCR IN SUBJECT: INDIAN VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 12TH SESSION PRIORITIES - CORRECTED COPY SENSITIVE REF: SECSTATE 93373 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Indian Government shares some of our concerns for the 12th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and is likely to support a freedom of expression resolution. India will probably vote on other resolutions introduced during the session according to consensus. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) According to MEA Under Secretary for United Nations Economic and Social Division Abhishek Verma, who spoke to poloff on September 16 in response to reftel demarche, the GOI shares our concern with the resolution on defamation of religions. In addition to the negative impact the OIC-sponsored resolution would have on freedom of expression, Verma explained, the GOI believes the resolution equates race with religion -- a link India is opposed to making -- and India is unlikely to back the resolution until clarity is achieved. Verma said that India would have no reservations about voting in favor of a freedom of expression resolution given a broad consensus. ¶3. (SBU) The Indian Government supports a resolution introduced by France which would reinforce the mandate of the Independent Expert (IE) in Burundi but has not decided its position on resolutions regarding Somalia and Cambodia to be sponsored by Sweden and Japan, respectively. Referring to the debate over whether an office of the High Commissioner should be opened in Somalia before extending the mandate of the IE, Verma said India is waiting until the African Group and the EU arrive at an agreement. Similarly, Verma pointed to a lack of consensus on whether the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to Cambodia should be extended and said India would wait until the issue was debated before endorsing it. ¶4. (SBU) Verma was unable to indicate whether India would introduce its Tolerance and Pluralism resolution this year, explaining his office had not yet received a draft statement from its Geneva mission. He was also unaware of the Russian-sponsored resolution on traditional values or the resolution to be introduced by Colombia and Mexico on discriminatory laws against women, but Verma was confident the GOI would support the latter. He promised to share with us GOI positions on each of these resolutions as soon as they were formulated. Post will follow up in the coming days and report septel as we learn of India's intentions during the 12th session of the HRC. ROEMER