US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2186

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, Human Rights 
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