US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI4934

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, Human Rights 
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