INDIA EXPRESSES QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR A TSUNAMI

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001074

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN CE IN
SUBJECT: INDIA EXPRESSES QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR A TSUNAMI
COORDINATION GROUP

REF: STATE 18955


1. Mission presented reftel points on the formation of a
tsunami coordination group to the MEA which, on February 10,

SIPDIS
responded with a non-paper (the text of which is in paragraph
two) in support of such a group, provided its approach is
multilateral, and focused on organizing a donor conference in
Spring 2005. We take it as a positive sign that the GOI is
willing to engage with us to facilitate coordination among
the donors.


2. Begin verbatim text:

-- India had participated in the Core Group set up following
the Tsunami as an effort to develop more effective joint
action with the US, Australia, and Japan initially and,
thereafter with Canada and Netherlands in providing emergency
aid and assistance to countries affected by the Tsunami.

-- We have taken note of the US proposal for India to join
other donor nations, World Bank, ADB and the UN Development
Group to form a Tsunami Coordination Group.

-- We agree that, in order to be effective, the primary
objective for a Tsunami Coordination Group should be to
facilitate coordination of efforts by the different donors
towards reconstruction and rehabilitation in the Tsunami
affected countries and quick disbursement of pledged
assistance.

-- We, therefore, support a general conference in spring 2005
to coordinate positions between the donor nations and
countries affected by Tsunami.

-- We believe that individual donor events on a
country-specific basis would be less in consonance with the
required approach and objectives of such a Tsunami
Coordination Group.

-- India would endorse a Tsunami Coordination Group for the
reconstruction phase on the same principle as behind the
setting up of the Core Group following the Tsunami.

-- India has already initiated the process of providing
reconstruction assistance on a bilateral basis to countries
affected by the Tsunami in its neighborhood, in particular
Sri Lanka.

10.02.2005
New Delhi.

End text.


3. When USAID raised this with SK Chattopadhay, Joint
Secretary for Disaster Management at the Ministry of Home

SIPDIS
Affairs (MHA),he remarked that the GOI Planning Commission
is already coordinating with UNDP, the Asian Development
Bank, and the World Bank on the elaboration of a
reconstruction program for affected areas in India.
MULFORD