DEPARTING IRANIAN AMBASSADOR MAY SEEK SENIOR FAO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000857

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR IO/EDA AND NEA/NGA
FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2015
TAGS: AORC EAGR KUNR PINR PREL IR FAO
SUBJECT: DEPARTING IRANIAN AMBASSADOR MAY SEEK SENIOR FAO
POST


Classified By: Ambassador Tony P. Hall, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Mohammad Saeid Noori-Naeni, who has served as
Iran's Ambassador to the UN agencies in Rome since 1994,
returns to his academic roots in Iran this month to become
Rector of the University of Tehran. Indications are that the
Iranian diplomat, who is popular in Rome, may be
contemplating a comeback.


2. (SBU) We have found Noori to be an effective consensus
builder who has managed to work closely with both G-77 and
OEDC delegations in Rome. An articulate leader who combines
personal charm and diplomatic savvy with technical expertise
in agricultural economics (Ph.D., Cornell University),Noori
chaired the WFP Executive Board in 2000 and the FAO Committee
on World Food Security (CFS) in 1998-2000. Although he was
an unsuccessful candidate for President of IFAD in 2001, he
maintained a high profile at FAO as chairman of the
negotiations on the contentious Voluntary Guidelines on the
Right to Food. Many observers in Rome attributed the
harmonious outcome of these negotiations in November 2004 to
Noori's active and balanced chairmanship. He has been
especially effective in keeping more radical G-77 permreps in
check as he argued for pragmatic political solutions.


3. (C) We have been told that Noori may become a candidate
for the position of Independent Chair of the FAO Council, to
succeed Aziz Mekouar (Morocco) in November 2005. Noori could
in many respects be a very strong candidate. Among
Rome-based diplomats (and senior officials of the FAO
Secretariat),he would probably be the hands-down favorite.

SIPDIS


4. (C) USUN Rome has worked well with Noori in official
capacities. He could be a unifying leader of the Council. He
has made many attempts to signal good will toward the US
delegation, and in one recent sitting defended explicitly the
US position against a barrage from some G-77 members.
Clearly, Noori's nationality will be an issue for us. The
question is whether we would be willing to overlook this or
remain silent if momentum builds for a Noori candidacy. It
is possible that his chairmanship of the Council could
strengthen FAO and that he would be supportive of many USG
objectives in the organization.


5. (C) We have already been sounded out as to whether the
US would support a Noori candidacy, to which we have made
noncommittal responses. Some OECD permreps (such as the UK
and the Netherlands) have told us confidentially that they
would likely support him for the position.


6. (U) The next Independent Chair of the FAO Council will
be elected by secret ballot at the 33rd FAO Conference, 19-26
November 2005. The deadline for nominations will be set by
the Council at its 20-25 June 2005 session. Under standard
FAO procedures the closing date would normally fall between
mid-August and the first week of September 2005. The newly
elected Independent Chairman takes up the gavel at the 130th
Council on 28 November 2005. Since 1969, the position has
been held (in reverse chronological order) by nationals of
Morocco, Indonesia, Mexico, Belgium, Tunisia, India, Nigeria,
Colombia, and France.

HALL


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2005ROME00857 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL