INDIA READY TO COOPERATE WITH IRAQ ON SECURITY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 004798

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER ENRG IZ IN
SUBJECT: INDIA READY TO COOPERATE WITH IRAQ ON SECURITY AND
ENERGY

REF: NEW DELHI 4619

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


1. (C) DCM spoke to Iraqi Charge Muayad Hussain on June 23
to share with him the text of Indian FM Singh's statement at
the US-EU Conference on Iraq (text below). Highlighting the
FM's offer that, "We stand ready to cooperate with Iraq in
providing assistance in capacity building, for security
management, as well as for its energy sector," the DCM told
Hussain that the offers on security management and energy
clearly reflected suggestions Iraq Coordinator Ambassador
Jones had made during his June 10 visit to New Delhi
(Reftel). DCM further urged the Charge to follow up directly
with the GOI either in New Delhi or in Baghdad to develop
concrete plans to make this a reality. Hussain agreed the
two countries have an opening and said he would be in touch
with Baghdad.


2. (U) Begin GOI text:

External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh,s intervention at the
International Conference on Iraq in Brussels, 22 June 2005

Mr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative,

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States
of America,

Excellencies,

The European Union, its Presidency and the Government of
United States deserve our appreciation for hosting and
organizing this International Conference on Iraq and for the
meticulous arrangements they have made for ensuring the
success of the Conference.

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Prime Minister of Iraq and his
colleagues also deserve our congratulations for their
detailed presentation of the developments that have taken
place in Iraq. They have analyzed the challenges that their
government faces and the steps that it is taking for
political and economic reconstruction of the country. On
behalf of India, I wish all success for these efforts.

We in India have been closely following recent political
developments in Iraq. The restoration of sovereignty to the
Iraqi people is essential for the establishment of peace and
stability in the country. In this context, the holding of
elections in Iraq on January 30, 2005, was a noteworthy and
encouraging development. The United Nations played a useful
supporting role in that process. India has welcomed the
formation of the Transitional Government in Iraq headed by
Prime Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari. Soon after its
confirmation by the elected Transitional National Assembly,
the Prime Minister of India sent his Special Envoy,
Ambassador Chinmaya Gharekhan, to Baghdad, with a message of
solidarity and support to Prime Minister Jaafari. He also met
several Ministers and conveyed to them our support to the
democratic process and to democratic forces in Iraq and our
commitment in assisting in the reconstruction of Iraq.

India would like to see a stable, peaceful, prosperous,
united and democratic Iraq. Our Prime Minister has conveyed
to Prime Minister Jaafari that Iraq could, if it wished, draw
upon India's experience in drafting a Constitution for its
multi-cultural society. Our own experience as a
multi-cultural and multi-religious democracy is that
Constitution-drafting is a critically important process that
needs to be inclusive in order to ensure its wide acceptance
and long-term legitimacy.

India has civilizational relationship with Iraq and
traditionally strong ties of friendship with Iraq and its
people. We have been deeply distressed at the sufferings of
the people of Iraq, especially for the past many years. What
Iraq most needs today is security and stability. We condemn
the actions of disruptive forces in Iraq and the activities
of terrorist elements. Once the security situation improves,
Iraq will quickly march on the road to its prosperity.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate India's
continued commitment to provide assistance to the people of
Iraq in their humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. India
has committed a total of USD 30 million in assistance, USD 10
million through the International Reconstruction Fund
Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) and USD 20 million bilaterally. We
are providing assistance for human resource development,
provision of certain commodities as well as social sector
projects in keeping with Iraq's requirements. We stand ready
to cooperate with Iraq in providing assistance in capacity
building, for security management, as well as for its energy
sector.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I hope this Conference
will pave the way towards rededication of international
efforts towards assisting Iraq in its political and economic
reconstruction. I would also like to take this opportunity to
once again convey the best wishes of the people and
Government of India to the people and Government of Iraq for
their success in this endeavour.

Thank You.

End GOI text.
MULFORD