Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NEWDELHI8799
2005-11-18 14:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

INDIA'S NAM BAGGAGE STILL HOLDING IT BACK ON UN

Tags:  PREL KDEM PHUM IN UNSC GOI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008799 

SIPDIS

FOR THE SECRETARY; U/S BURNS
USUN FOR JOHN BOLTON
IO FOR A/S KRISTEN SILVERBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM IN UNSC GOI
SUBJECT: INDIA'S NAM BAGGAGE STILL HOLDING IT BACK ON UN
REFORM

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008799

SIPDIS

FOR THE SECRETARY; U/S BURNS
USUN FOR JOHN BOLTON
IO FOR A/S KRISTEN SILVERBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM IN UNSC GOI
SUBJECT: INDIA'S NAM BAGGAGE STILL HOLDING IT BACK ON UN
REFORM

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: At a November 17 meeting with Senior
Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador Tahir-Kheli, Deputy National
Security Advisor Nambiar insisted that India's "stereotype as
a representative of developing countries" at the United
Nations will hinder its ability to play a leading role with
the US on UN reform. Even as India "moves away" from its
association with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and tries to
soften the group's statements, they are still "bound by these
historic compulsions," Nambiar countered, and will have to
move with the general consensus. Ambassador Tahir-Kheli
stressed that India has already made many of the tough
decisions at the UN to move away from NAM positions, and
pointed out that several NAM countries are on board with the
reform movement. She urged the GOI to speak up on areas of
UN reform where it does agree, rather than being dragged
along with a consensus that does not match the interests of
either India or the US. End Summary.

SCARED TO JOIN THE BIG BOYS?
--------------


2. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador Vijay
Nambiar told Senior Advisor on UN reform Ambassador
Tahir-Kheli at a meeting at New Delhi's United Services
Institute on November 17 that India may not take the lead on
advocating for UN reform because it is constrained by its
traditional role as a representative of developing countries
in the NAM. Nambiar, who served as India's Permanent
Representative to the UN, commented that India "can't be seen
as part of the big boys club yet." He observed that it would
be difficult for the GOI to subscribe to the American
"segmented" approach to UN reform. Acknowledging that India
was "moving in the direction of the US proposals," he
nevertheless predicted that on specific priorities, such as
the Human Rights Council, India would "move with the general
collective rather than staking a leadership position."

COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT
--------------


3. (C) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli pointed out that it was in our

joint interest to work together on areas of US-India
consensus rather than leaving key decision to the NAM. She
observed that India's stated case for a UNSC seat is based on
its leadership role which does not mesh with Nambiar's stated
inclination to defer to the NAM. India's role in the UN
Democracy Fund and its IAEA vote show that the GOI has
already taken the tough decision to move away from this
stereotype. Comparatively, UN reform should not be
controversial since a strengthened management effort and a
robust Human Rights Council is in everyone's interest.
Ambassador Tahir-Kheli urged India to take a visible role in
advocating for reforms with the US where there was a common
agenda, rather than being dragged along by the NAM consensus.


4. (C) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli also pointed out that the USG
and GOI agree on most aspects of the Human Rights Council.
She noted that certain NAM countries, including many African
nations and Singapore, were supporting the Human Rights
Council. A difference of opinion on country-specific
condemnations should not prevent India and the US from
working together, she added. Ambassador Tahir-Kheli praised
India's commitment to the Democracy Fund and emphasized that
human rights was the other side of the coin and an important
priority for democratic nations. She urged support for
management reform in areas of common consensus.

NAMBY PAMBY
--------------


5. (C) Comment: Although PM Singh and other top leaders do
not necessarily share his thinking on India's need to move
slowly away from traditional allegiances, the Deputy National
Security Advisor's opinions provides insight into how some of
India's bureaucrats, including PermRep Sen, feel about
working with the US on UN reform. Nambiar's brother, Lt.
Gen. (retd.) Satish Nambiar, served on Annan's High Level
Panel on UN reform and was also present at the meeting. He
was less cautious on the US reform effort, saying that he
agreed with the need for vocal Indian support on management
and human rights reforms. However, General Nambiar commented
that many in India and the UN are deeply suspicious of the
American commitment to Security Council reform. As a result,
without bankable US support for India on the UNSC, some GOI
leaders, such at the Deputy NSA, may wonder whether UN reform
is worth the risk of fraying India's NAM coalition and facing
more domestic political flak. Nambiar added that Ambassador
Tahir-Kheli's extensive public discussion of the overall
reform agenda was very helpful as most Indians believed that
UNSC expansion was the main reform issue.


6. (U) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli has cleared this message.


7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
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