235589 11/19/2009 12:57 09 NEWDELHI 2342 Embassy New Delhi CONFIDENTIAL 09 NEWDELHI 2227 | 09 SECSTATE 118799 "VZCZCXRO2548OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHTRODE RUEHNE #2342 3231257ZNY CCCCC ZZHO 191257Z NOV 09FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHITO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8649INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVERUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVERUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVERUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8095RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 7006RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3784RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1990RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0679RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6590RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0180RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 8644RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDCRUEAIIA/CIA WASHDCRHEHNSC/NSC WASHDCRUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DCRUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8661" "C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002342
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019 TAGS: PREL, UNGA, KPAL, IS, IN
SUBJECT: INDIA WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS
REF: A. SECSTATE 118799 B. NEW DELHI 02227
Classified By: POLCOUNS Uzra Zeya for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) The Indian Mission to the UN in New York will vote in favor of resolutions that reaffirm support for the three UN institutions devoted exclusively to Palestinian issues as New Delhi remains unwilling to review its policy on Israeli-Palestinian issues. On November 18, PolCouns conveyed Ref A points to Indian Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretaries for UN Political (UNP) and UN Economic and Social (UNES) Divisions urging them to review their policy on the redundant and costly institutions and request their permanent representative to the UN Mission in New York to abstain or be absent when these and other UN resolutions with an anti-Israel bias came to a vote.
2. (C) In reply, Director of UNP Division, Sanjay Rana, told Poloff on November 19 that India would not change its position on such resolutions. Despite Delhi's ongoing consideration of such resolutions, the Indian Government has a ""consistent and strong position"" on the Israeli-Palestinian debate, Rana explained. He reiterated the statement made in early November by the Indian Deputy Envoy to the UN that ""India's commitment to the Palestinian cause is complete."" Poloff noted our objections to such resolutions stem largely from the fact that their one-sidedness only detracts from the institutional credibility of the UN and damages the peace process.
3. (C) Comment: Despite India's good relations with Israel, India's interests in fora like the UN are usually in lock-step with Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, especially on issues related to the Middle East (Ref B). The Indian Government is likely to remain inflexible on its UN voting strategy through the 64th UN General Assembly and continue to support resolutions with an anti-Israel bias. Its aim is to stay in good favor with NAM countries which presumably would support India's candidacy for a non-permanent seat during October 2010 UN Security Council elections. End Comment.
ROEMER
