GOI READY TO ASSIST IRAQ, BUT QUIETLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003402

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2015
TAGS: PREL EAID KDEM IN IZ
SUBJECT: GOI READY TO ASSIST IRAQ, BUT QUIETLY

REF: A. STATE 79107

B. STATE 78774 NOTAL

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


1. (C) Summary: Charge conveyed Ref A demarche encouraging a
GOI statement on new Iraqi government on April 30. In a
follow-up May 5 meeting, Joint Secretary (Gulf) Sanjay Singh
told PolCouns and Poloff that while the MEA was unlikely to
issue a formal statement congratulating the new Iraqi
Transitional Government (ITG),it was being "proactive" in
identifying opportunities to offer training assistance to the
new government. The GOI is committed to strengthening the
new government and maintaining its strong ties with Iraq, but
for domestic political reasons prefers to keep its
involvement inconspicuous. The next step is an Iraqi
government request to India. End Summary.


2. (C) Responding to the ITG demarche (Ref A),delivered
also to Joint Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar by the Charge
on April 30, Singh recalled India's statement welcoming the
January elections in Iraq and stated that while the GOI
normally sends a letter congratulating new national
governments, it was unlikely to issue any public statement of
support at this time. Nevertheless, India continues
"proactively" to identify areas for training Iraqi government
officials in technical skills. Noting the similarities
between India and Iraq's multi-ethnic, multi-religious
society, Singh suggested that Indian expertise would be
useful in drafting the Iraqi constitution, and highlighted
two classes for foreign officials in legislative drafting and
parliamentary procedures offered through the GOI's technical
assistance program.


3. (C) Singh reviewed a range of courses that the GOI had
identified as being potentially useful for Iraqi officials,
including banking and finance, microcredit and small business
development, agriculture, water resource management, railway
administration, education, and WTO preparation, and noted
that India has already informed the Iraqi Mission of a number
of short term scholarships and long term fellowships
designated for them to attend these programs. The MEA is
waiting now for the Iraqi government to respond to its offer
for training, he stated. In the meantime, MEA is drawing
from USAID materials shared by the Embassy to identify
technical assistance options that would be responsive to
Iraqi requirements.


4. (C) After PolCouns briefed Singh generally on the
possibility of a June conference in Brussels to support the
ITG as proposed by the President during his February Europe
trip (Ref B),Singh noted the GOI's interest in
participating, and stated that both the Secretary during her
March visit and the Indian Mission to the EU in Brussels had
informed the MEA of that meeting. He asked that we stay in
contact as the Iraqi government and conference sponsors agree
on the details, so that the MEA can seek political
concurrence.

Comment
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5. (C) The GOI is committed to maintaining its traditionally
strong ties to Iraq, and believes that it has useful
resources to offer to the new Iraqi government, but wants to
keep its involvement low profile for now to avoid stirring up
opposition from the left wing of Congress and the Communist
parties who support the UPA from outside and view the Iraqi
government as an illegitimate product of occupation. The new
ITG will need to encourage the Iraqi Mission in New Delhi to
follow up on these offers of assistance, particularly as the
constitution drafting gets underway.


6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
BLAKE