Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO1444
2003-08-19 07:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

Sri Lanka's Like-Minded Countries Initiative

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINS CE ECONOMICS 
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This 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 001444 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08-19-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS CE ECONOMICS
SUBJECT: Sri Lanka's Like-Minded Countries Initiative

Ref: State 231793

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Charge'
d'Affaires. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001444

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/CT; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08-19-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS CE ECONOMICS
SUBJECT: Sri Lanka's Like-Minded Countries Initiative

Ref: State 231793

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Charge'
d'Affaires. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Per Reftel, Charge' met with Economic
Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda on August 18 to
deliver Reftel points. In response, Moragoda stressed
the need for the like-minded countries group to be
outside of the auspices of the UN, and identified
several key potential members. Moragoda seemed quite
upbeat on the initiative's chances for success, and made
specific requests for discreet U.S. assistance in
shaping the group's membership. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Charge' and poloff met with Minister Moragoda on
August 18 and made Reftel points. In response, Moragoda
stressed the need for the like-minded country initiative
to be outside of the existing UN or NAM structures and
to function as a stand-alone entity. It should be a
formal grouping, Moragoda said. According to Moragoda,
the grouping would take a pragmatic approach and stress
the importance of results. Moragoda said any
announcements would be made from the margins of the UNGA
in New York, not in Washington.


3. (C) Moragoda stated that Norway and Holland had
expressed interest in joining the initiative. Moreover,
Moragoda said that he had recently discussed the
initiative with Singaporean Foreign Minister S.
Jayakumar and with Tommy Koh, both of whom were
interested yet cautious. Moragoda told the Charge' that
although he agreed completely with the need to keep U.S.
"fingerprints" off of the process, it would be very
helpful if the U.S. could quietly tell the Singaporeans
that Washington is aware of and endorses the Sri Lankan
initiatives.


4. (C) Charge' expressed Washington's wholehearted
enthusiasm for the like-minded countries concept, but
cautioned Moragoda that to be successful, the grouping
needed to be perceived as an exclusively Sri Lankan
initiative. Moragoda expressed his full understanding
and said Sri Lanka would take the lead in contacting
potential members, asking only that the U.S. suggest
five or six "sure targets" from the expanded list
previously provided. Moragoda requested specific U.S.
assistance in identifying several "credible" African
countries, and also asked that the U.S. quietly endorse
the Sri Lankan initiative to Bahrain (along the lines of
the quiet overture to Singapore mentioned above),since
Moragoda sees Bahrain as a key Arab participant.


5. (C) Moragoda stressed that the group would most
likely confine itself initially to two or three agenda
items -- specifically reform of the Non-Aligned
Movement, and matters arising from the Doha round of WTO
talks. Possible future topics of consideration,
Moragoda suggested, might include weapons of mass
destruction in the context of global prevention and
monitoring methods. Moragoda commented that discussion
of Iraq would be unavoidable.


6. (C) Moragoda indicated that a preliminary meeting of
the group would possibly take place on the margins of
the UN General Assembly in September. Moragoda noted
that he would keep the U.S. abreast of new developments
in the grouping's structure and possible activities, and
requested that Washington get back to him as quickly as
possible on the Singapore and Bahrain overtures and a
focused "short list" with a few "credible Africans" so
that an initial meeting could take place in September in
New York.


7. (C) COMMENT: Moragoda remains quite upbeat and
optimistic on the like-minded countries initiative while
being pragmatic about the scope of the task. While he
had asked for specific items of additional U.S.
assistance, he is fully on board on the need to keep the
U.S. out of the front row on this initiative. END
COMMENT.


ENTWISTLE