91. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1
3051. Subject: 43rd UNHRC: U.S. Defeated on Cuba Resolution.
1. This is HRC–391.
2. As widely expected, on March 11 India introduced a motion to “take no action” on the U.S. resolution on human rights in Cuba.2 After [Page 272] lengthy debate, and the defeat of a Bulgarian motion to close debate, the Indian motion was approved by a vote of 19–18 (U.S.) –6. Therefore, the U.S. resolution never came to be voted upon.
3. The loss by one vote (a tie would have meant victory for us) was heartbreaking. Particularly disappointing was the behavior of the major Latin democracies, in particular Argentina, Venezuela, and Colombia. With the exception of Brazil (abstained), all of South America voted in favor of the Indian motion. The only bright spot was Costa Rica. The Costa Rican Ambassador Soley Soler was simply magnificent. He took the floor on numerous occasions to speak against the Bulgarian and Indian motions and voted with us throughout. We hope that AmEmbassy San Jose will express our deep appreciation for Costa Rica’s brave, energetic, and principled stand.
4. Further details to follow septel.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870196–0128. Limited Official Use; Immediate. Sent immediate for information to the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and USUN New York. Sent for information to Caracas, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, San José, Brasilia, Buenos Airés, New Delhi, and Managua.↩
- In telegram 6148 from New Delhi, March 11, the Embassy reported that Indian disagreement over the resolution on Cuba was due, in part, to U.S. opposition to an Argentine resolution on human rights violations in Sri Lanka. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870477–0364)↩
- In telegram 3123 from Geneva, March 14, USUN provided a detailed post-mortem of the debate regarding the resolution on Cuba. (Department of State, Subject Files, Human Right Files, 1986, Lot 90D53, Human Rights Commission II)↩