US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2680

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, Human Rights 
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