INDIAN MISSION TO IRAQ OPENS DOORS FOR COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 004194

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015
TAGS: PREL EAID ETRD IZ IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN MISSION TO IRAQ OPENS DOORS FOR COOPERATION

REF: A. STATE 99923

B. STATE 94861

Classified By: A/DCM Geoffrey Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: On June 1, MEA Joint Secretary (Gulf) Sanjay
Singh briefed PolCouns and PolMilOff about West Asia Special
Envoy Ambassador Chinmaya Gharekhan's recent visit to
Baghdad. As the first official contact between the GOI and
the new Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG),Gharekhan's
visit was intended to express India's "support and
solidarity" for Iraqi reconstruction and democratization and
to discuss opportunities for cooperation. According to
Singh, the GOI impression of Iraq was one of slow but
discernible progress, impeded by both targeted and
generalized violence, which may limit Indian presence in the
capital. Gharekhan, however, has also reported back that
India needs to be more engaged, and Singh (for the first
time) acknowledged that terrorists operating in Iraq are part
of a transnational network that also threatens India. New
Delhi will engage Baghdad in various upcoming fora, including
the EU-US international conference, and the Indo-Iraq Joint
Commission, and may consider replicating successful Afghan
projects in Iraq. End Summary.


2. (C) Sanjay Singh's June 1 readout was notable both for a
renewed impression of GOI engagement in Iraq and for the
Joint Secretary's acknowledgment that Iraq is making gradual
progress. He acknowledged a level of normalcy in Baghdad,
despite the considerable problem of insecurity. As in Punjab
during the 1990's, Singh said, Iraqi civilians are
demonstrating a strong will to get on with their lives in the
face of pervasive and often random violence.


3. (C) While in Baghdad May 23-26, West Asia Special Envoy
Gharekhan and MEA J/S Singh met with Prime Minister Jaafari
and officials from the Ministries of Oil, Industry, Trade,
Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Education. Gharekhan's
mission was meant to express GOI support for reconstruction
and democratization and to discuss opportunities for
cooperation. (Note: In his briefing to PolCouns and
PolMilOff, J/S Singh pointedly distinguished between the GOI
offer of cooperation vice assistance; "assistance would
require more negotiation," he stated. End Note.)


4. (C) In his meeting with PM Jaafari, Gharekhan conveyed
India's "support and solidarity" for Iraqi reconstruction and
democratization and personally relayed PM Manmohan Singh's
"keen interest" to "do whatever is necessary to establish a
close and cooperative relationship" with the new government.
Gharekhan invited the Iraqi PM and other members of the ITG
to visit India to consult with relevant ministries. Jaafari,
in turn, extended an invitation to PM Manmohan Singh to visit
Iraq. Although the GOI understands that the ITG may not ask
for external assistance with drafting its constitution,
according to Singh, Gharekhan told Jaafari that members of
Iraq's Constitutional Committee would be welcome to visit
India to learn about democratic functions, e.g., election
infrastructure, civil society, etc. The J/S remarked that
Jaafari impressed the Indian delegation with his extensive
knowledge of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, and noted that
the PM "seems to be a man of philosophy."


5. (C) Following up on the Iraqi PM's interest in
democratization, Gharekhan inquired about Sunni
representation on the Constitutional Committee. According to
Singh, the Minister of Interior stated that the number of
Sunnis on the committee will be increased from three to 18.
PolCouns noted that Secretary Rice has also advocated for
broad Sunni representation in the ITG. Although Sunni
representation is important, "we look at Iraq as a secular
country," Singh stated. He added that India was most
interested in helping with the building blocs of Iraqi
democracy -- human rights commissions, election commissions,
and other institutions where India enjoys expertise.
Reconvening the Indo-Iraq Joint Commission
--------------


6. (SBU) In meetings with the Ministries of Oil, Trade, and
Industry, Gharekhan raised the issue of reconvening the
Indo-Iraq Joint Commission (JC),previously chaired by the
oil ministers. Officials from the Ministry of Trade
suggested that in preparation for the JC, a joint working
group first meet to forge an agenda and outline pending
issues from the last meeting of the body in Baghdad in
September 2002. Gharekhan also extended an invitation to a
delegation from the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce to visit India
to discuss ways to increase trade between the two countries.

Model Projects from Afghanistan
--------------


7. (C) While large-scale Indian projects in Iraq will have
to await improvement in the security climate, PolCouns
suggested the GOI consider engagement on smaller, more
immediate projects. Using successful Indian projects in
Afghanistan as a model, PolCouns asked, for instance, whether
the GOI had considered replicating its Afghan telemedicine
project in Iraqi hospitals, possibly starting someplace like
Basra or Najaf. Such a high-profile project would highlight
Indian expertise in medicine and satellite technology, while
responding to a critical need in Iraq. Singh, familiar with
the GOI project in Afghanistan, said this was "totally
possible," adding that "we're looking for partners" to
facilitate Indian involvement.

Educational Exchange
--------------


8. (SBU) Educational exchange is currently the most active
area of engagement between the two countries, and officials
in the Ministry of Education expressed gratitude for
opportunities Iraqis have to study and train in India,
according to Singh. The J/S admitted, however, that slots
allotted for Iraqis in higher education and vocational
training programs in India are underutilized this year
compared to last. Singh attributed this to lack of
acceptance of Iraqi educational certificates in Indian
institutions, a problem that could be resolved by regularized
university-to-university exchanges. Singh suggested that the
Iraqi mission in New Delhi have an education attache to
facilitate these linkages.

Uncertain about Security
--------------


9. (C) Underscoring GOI concern about stability and safety,
Gharekhan met with the Iraqi National Security Advisor for a
briefing about the security situation throughout the country.
Observing that Iraqis seem undeterred by the heavy military
presence in Baghdad, Singh nevertheless expressed strong
personal hesitation about the security situation in the
capital which may limit the GOI presence there. He commented
that the Iraqi security services "seem to have their hands
full" coping with Shia-Sunni tension, the transnational flow
of insurgents, as well as generalized crime. Singh stated
that "Criminals who got their freedom as (a result of
Saddam's fall and the US intervention) are a bigger danger
than the terrorists." He added that kidnapping has become an
industry and is even being "out-sourced" to "criminal
contractors" who kidnap internationals and Iraqis for profit.
PolCouns encouraged the GOI to consider assisting Iraq with
security training that builds on India's own experience in
successfully controlling similar situations while still
maintaining respect for democracy and human rights. Singh
indicated that Gharekhan had told the Iraqi NSA that India
was prepared to "cooperate" in this area.
Opportunities for Engagement
--------------


10. (SBU) Taking advantage of increasing Indian interest in
Iraq, PolCouns urged the GOI to send a high-level
representative to the upcoming US-EU conference (Ref B).
Singh indicated that Gharekhan would likely represent the GOI
but noted that the final level of GOI presence would be
decided by the Foreign Minister.


11. (U) Singh welcomed the visit of Iraq Coordinator
Ambassador Richard Jones, June 9-10 (Ref A). Although
Ambassador Gharekhan will be in the US on a personal visit at
that time, the J/S was hopeful that the two Ambassadors would
be able to meet when Jones returns to the US. Singh
suggested that Jones meet with technical ministries in New
Delhi to discuss useful areas of engagement in Iraq.


12. (C) PolCouns described the Iraqi Embassy's initiative to
convene a seminar for GOI and industry representative in New
Delhi to discuss opportunities for India in Iraq and inquired
about MEA involvement in that effort. Singh admitted that
some GOI officials had sought permission from MEA to
participate in the event, which they need not do, he
stressed, but did because of "well-known sensitivities" about
Iraq.


13. (C) Finally, PolCouns asked about the status of the
exchange of Ambassadors. Singh intimated that the decision
was delayed due to ITG hesitation about the previous
candidate whose Agrement has been pending since September.
(Note: In a June 2 conversation with PolMilOff, the Iraqi
Charge confirmed that Baghdad had withdrawn the previous
candidate from consideration. End Note.) In the meantime,
PolCouns encouraged MEA to maintain closer contact with the
Iraqi mission in New Delhi to facilitate exploring these
emerging opportunities. Singh indicated that an Indian
Ambassador would be posted to Baghdad soon.
BLAKE