KOFI ANNAN BURSTS INDIA'S UNSC VETO BUBBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003252

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015
TAGS: PREL EAID IN IZ UNSC
SUBJECT: KOFI ANNAN BURSTS INDIA'S UNSC VETO BUBBLE

REF: A. NEW DELHI 3087


B. NEW DELHI 302

Classified By: Charge Robert Blake. Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's April
26-28 visit to New Delhi began on a positive note as Annan
and the GOI made amends for the GOI's refusal to allow the
Secretary General to tour tsunami affected areas in southern

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India in January, but it ended with a bubble-bursting bang
when Annan very clearly said that new UNSC members could not
expect to have veto power. Annan's reality check set off
introspection among New Delhi foreign policy watchers who now
argue that India should put less effort into its "obsession"
with the UNSC and more into being a global leader. The GOI
publicly offered constitution-drafting assistance through the
UN to the new Iraqi government, suggesting that New Delhi is
making a preliminary, albeit belated, gesture towards
re-engaging on Iraq reconstruction. Annan also urged India
to sign the CTBT and join negotiations on the FMCT. End
Summary.

The Patch
--------------


2. (SBU) With no apparent lingering effects of the GOI's
tsunami "snub," New Delhi rolled out the red carpet for Annan

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who met with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister,
President Kalam, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of
the Opposition LK Advani, and attended a roundtable on
HIV/AIDS. Although the MEA had stated on January 11 that it
had no specific request from Annan to visit affected areas in
India, the GOI reportedly had denied the Secretary General's
request to include India in his tsunami tour (ref B). Annan
did not visit any tsunami reconstruction sites in India
during this trip.

The Pitch
--------------


3. (SBU) Undeterred by its inconclusive lobbying effort with
Chinese Premier Wen (ref A),New Delhi continued its UNSC
campaign with the Secretary General. In his lunchtime toast,
Foreign Minister Natwar Singh restated India's case,
declaring that "the architecture of the UN has remained
frozen in time," and that developing countries needed to be
allowed to "decisively influence the global agenda in all its
aspects." Indeed, the MEA spokesperson announced on April 27
that the GOI focus during Annan's visit was to "reiterate
India's claim to the Security Council," and to inform the
Secretary General of India's efforts to that end. Congress

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spokesman Anand Sharma told PolCouns in the midst of the
visit that India would underline its insistence on a UNSC
seat including the veto. Anything less, Sharma said, would
be unacceptable to the Indian people and politically
untenable following the Parliamentary debate where the
government affirmed its quest for membership including a veto.

The Pinch
--------------


4. (U) On April 28, Annan delivered a lecture "In Larger
Freedom: the Changing Role of the UN," which echoed many
Indian arguments for UNSC membership, including selection
based on contribution to peacekeeping and diplomatic efforts.
But the Secretary General also squashed the GOI's veto
hopes. Responding to a question about the utility of an
expanded Security Council without the veto, Annan urged the
audience not to be so focused on that detail, adding that an
enlarged Council even without the veto would be a "step
forward." Later, at a press conference, asked if countries
that are bidding for a permanent seat can expect veto power
as well, the Secretary General answered, "no, the new
permanent members are not designed to have a veto." He added
that it would be "utopian" to expect the P-5 to dilute their
current rights. During his remarks Annan also expressed the
hope that India would soon sign the CTBT and join the FMCT
negotiations (which also ruffled some Indian feathers).

Back to Reality
--------------

5. (U) New Delhi-based policy watchers are increasingly
calling for the GOI to "get real" on India's UNSC prospects.
Following Annan's April 28 speech, an "Indian Express"
editorial observed that India should accept membership, even
without parity to the P-5, as a "first step." An op-ed in
the "Hindu" urged New Delhi to not "tilt at windmills," and
to consider how unlikely it is that UN member states will
favor expanding the "profoundly undemocratic" veto. Even
before Annan injected his dose of reality into India's
campaign, prominent strategist C. Raja Mohan on April 26
asserted that India's "obsession" with the UNSC was
detracting from the more relevant deficiency in New Delhi's
foreign policy: insufficient international power. Arguing
that "in its obsession with Security Council membership,
India has contributed little to the new debates in the UN on
the great global issues," Mohan warned that there are "no
short cuts to great power status."

Iraq Offer
--------------


6. (U) Although the veto issue soon overtook it, on April
27, the Foreign Minister responded to Annan's remarks on
continuing UN engagement in Iraq with a public offer of
Indian support for the "revival of the political process"
there. According to the MEA, Singh offered Indian expertise
for the drafting of the Iraqi constitution, and committed to
providing a list of Indians who could be involved. We will
encourage the Iraqi embassy here to follow up on this offer.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) With India's UNSC agenda -- and the considerable
domestic focus on this issue -- increasingly at odds with the
political realities, there is no indication of how the GOI
plans to regroup. The UNSC aside, Annan's remarks brought
into focus the need for greater Indian action and involvement
on global issues to back up their "rising global power"
argument. The GOI's public offer of assistance through the
UN to the new Iraqi government was significant as a
preliminary, albeit belated, gesture towards playing a part
in addressing global challenges. The upcoming visit to New
Delhi of Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli will provide an
important opportunity to reinforce this argument about the
need for India to continue stepping away from the GOI's
comfort zone as the GOI seeks to prove its readiness for a
permanent place on the Security Council.


8. (U) Minimize considered.
BLAKE