Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO1248
2003-07-16 11:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001248
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, S/P, IO; NSC FOR MILLARD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2013
TAGS: PREL CE ECONOMICS
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES
Classified By: CHARGE DON CAMP; REASONS 1.5 B, D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001248
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, S/P, IO; NSC FOR MILLARD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2013
TAGS: PREL CE ECONOMICS
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES
Classified By: CHARGE DON CAMP; REASONS 1.5 B, D.
1. (C) In meeting with Charge today, Minister Milinda
Moragoda provided latest GSL thinking about its proposal for
a new grouping of countries with a less hidebound approach to
international affairs and trade policy than the NAM and G-77.
He said the PM has assigned a small group of senior foreign
service officers (incoming FonSec Goonetilleke and
ambassadors in Bangkok, Washington, Geneva, and Brussels) to
vet the list of likely countries and individuals to
participate in the grouping. Their plan is to start small,
with a list of five or six countries, and arrange quiet
meetings with PM Wickremasinghe with the other heads of
government at the UNGA in September. This is a slower start
than originally envisioned, and Moragoda said it was still
possible that the group could be announced in September.
2. (C) Moragoda also said that after a discussion with the
Norwegian Foreign Minister, the GSL was reassessing whether
the group needed to be entirely composed of developing
countries. He asked what the USG view would be of including
the Dutch. Charge said he would consult Washington, but
pointed out that GSL was the convenor of the group.
3. (C) Moragoda also expanded on what we had previously
heard about Indian official reaction to the like-minded
grouping. He said he had briefed the idea to Foreign
Minister Sinha who had commented approvingly on changes in
the world and the importance of the international system
changing as well. Less than half an hour later, he said,
Foreign Secretary Sibal who had not been in the previous
discussion raised concern about the idea with his Sri Lankan
counterpart we have too many international organizations
already. Moragoda said his reaction is that the minister
spoke authoritatively, and he would assume Indian approbation
unless he were told otherwise by Sinha.
CAMP
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, S/P, IO; NSC FOR MILLARD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2013
TAGS: PREL CE ECONOMICS
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES
Classified By: CHARGE DON CAMP; REASONS 1.5 B, D.
1. (C) In meeting with Charge today, Minister Milinda
Moragoda provided latest GSL thinking about its proposal for
a new grouping of countries with a less hidebound approach to
international affairs and trade policy than the NAM and G-77.
He said the PM has assigned a small group of senior foreign
service officers (incoming FonSec Goonetilleke and
ambassadors in Bangkok, Washington, Geneva, and Brussels) to
vet the list of likely countries and individuals to
participate in the grouping. Their plan is to start small,
with a list of five or six countries, and arrange quiet
meetings with PM Wickremasinghe with the other heads of
government at the UNGA in September. This is a slower start
than originally envisioned, and Moragoda said it was still
possible that the group could be announced in September.
2. (C) Moragoda also said that after a discussion with the
Norwegian Foreign Minister, the GSL was reassessing whether
the group needed to be entirely composed of developing
countries. He asked what the USG view would be of including
the Dutch. Charge said he would consult Washington, but
pointed out that GSL was the convenor of the group.
3. (C) Moragoda also expanded on what we had previously
heard about Indian official reaction to the like-minded
grouping. He said he had briefed the idea to Foreign
Minister Sinha who had commented approvingly on changes in
the world and the importance of the international system
changing as well. Less than half an hour later, he said,
Foreign Secretary Sibal who had not been in the previous
discussion raised concern about the idea with his Sri Lankan
counterpart we have too many international organizations
already. Moragoda said his reaction is that the minister
spoke authoritatively, and he would assume Indian approbation
unless he were told otherwise by Sinha.
CAMP