Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI1738
2006-03-13 13:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
GOI HOPES FOR RESPONSE ON UN DEMOCRACY FUND
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA, IO, G (J FERRAO) AND P (A MANUEL AND T
BRADLEY),NSC FOR ABRAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM IN
SUBJECT: GOI HOPES FOR RESPONSE ON UN DEMOCRACY FUND
PROPOSALS
REF: A. NEW DELHI 759
B. STATE 24430
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 001738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA, IO, G (J FERRAO) AND P (A MANUEL AND T
BRADLEY),NSC FOR ABRAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM IN
SUBJECT: GOI HOPES FOR RESPONSE ON UN DEMOCRACY FUND
PROPOSALS
REF: A. NEW DELHI 759
B. STATE 24430
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) This message contains an ACTION REQUEST. Please see
para 7.
2. (C) Summary: MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) Sanjiv
Arora told PolCouns and POLOFF on March 13 that India is
awaiting a US response to its proposal to set up a New Delhi
office of the UN Democracy Fund. The GOI also looks forward
to advancing democracy cooperation under the Global Democracy
Initiative, but in response to our request for Indian
involvement in the BMENA initiative, MEA cautioned that some
areas of the world remain sensitive for the Indian public.
Post requests Washington provide a response to the GOI
proposal. End Summary.
3. (SBU) Arora met with PolCouns and POLOFF to discuss the
outcome of the March 6 meeting of the Advisory Board to the
UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF). Reviewing his readout from the
Indian representative at the UNDEF organizational meeting,
Arora commented that he was pleased to see a decision to
align UNDEF's activities as a complement to the
responsibilities of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). He
also welcomed the US announcement of an additional USD 7.9
million contribution to the Fund.
India Waiting for US Response on UNDEF Office
--------------
4. (C) Arora reminded us that India had proposed to Under
Secretary Dobriansky a New Delhi office to operationalize
SIPDIS
UNDEF projects (Ref A),and was awaiting a formal US
response. PolCouns noted general US concerns about such an
effort, including the desire not to turn this initiative into
"just another UN office in New Delhi," and to avoid the
appearance that this was a way for India to repatriate its
own donation to the Fund. India's proposal would be
stronger, he emphasized, if there were a specific vision of
additional benefits to democracy promotion that would arise
from the creation of such an office, and if it were clearly
branded as an Indian initiative, as we suggested in the
February 22 non-paper that Under Secretary Burns presented.
5. (C) In response, Arora reiterated the GOI's view that the
proposed office would be a center for democracy promotion,
not simply a management office for UNDEF. New Delhi had not
yet finalized any detailed concept, but would be able to
prepare a non-paper to outline its ideas if it would be
helpful, he said. In the meantime, the GOI had made the
proposal in the Global Issues Forum in order to get a US
reaction, and would appreciate feedback from the USG. India
would eventually make such a proposal to the UNDEF Advisory
Board, but since the US and India had "led the way" on the
Fund, New Delhi would appreciate an initial response from
Washington.
BMENA Initiative
--------------
6. (C) PolCouns raised the question of India joining the
Foundation for the Future of the Broader Middle East and
North African Initiative (BMENA) as a contributing partner
(Ref B),emphasizing the strong role India could play as an
example of democracy in an Asian setting. Arora expressed
interest and noted that MEA was still reviewing the idea and
would convey a considered response later. The MEA Americas
NEW DELHI 00001738 002 OF 002
division reported subsequently that India was very eager to
move ahead on democracy promotion activities outlined in the
March 2 Joint Statement, but warned that GOI consensus might
be harder to achieve in regions (like the Middle East) where
India has competing equities (to include a large domestic
Muslim constituency which is skeptical of US policy).
ACTION REQUEST: RESPONSE TO INDIAN PROPOSAL
--------------
7. (C) Charge will meet on March 14 with Minister of State
for External Affairs Anand Sharma, who has taken a leading
role in promoting the Global Democracy Initiative within the
Indian system. Post would appreciate Washington guidance on
any US reaction to the New Delhi UNDEF office proposal, as
well as other feedback from the UNDEF Advisory Board meeting,
looking ahead to the June meeting and our shared desire to
operationalize the fund as quickly as possible.
8. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA, IO, G (J FERRAO) AND P (A MANUEL AND T
BRADLEY),NSC FOR ABRAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PHUM IN
SUBJECT: GOI HOPES FOR RESPONSE ON UN DEMOCRACY FUND
PROPOSALS
REF: A. NEW DELHI 759
B. STATE 24430
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) This message contains an ACTION REQUEST. Please see
para 7.
2. (C) Summary: MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) Sanjiv
Arora told PolCouns and POLOFF on March 13 that India is
awaiting a US response to its proposal to set up a New Delhi
office of the UN Democracy Fund. The GOI also looks forward
to advancing democracy cooperation under the Global Democracy
Initiative, but in response to our request for Indian
involvement in the BMENA initiative, MEA cautioned that some
areas of the world remain sensitive for the Indian public.
Post requests Washington provide a response to the GOI
proposal. End Summary.
3. (SBU) Arora met with PolCouns and POLOFF to discuss the
outcome of the March 6 meeting of the Advisory Board to the
UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF). Reviewing his readout from the
Indian representative at the UNDEF organizational meeting,
Arora commented that he was pleased to see a decision to
align UNDEF's activities as a complement to the
responsibilities of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). He
also welcomed the US announcement of an additional USD 7.9
million contribution to the Fund.
India Waiting for US Response on UNDEF Office
--------------
4. (C) Arora reminded us that India had proposed to Under
Secretary Dobriansky a New Delhi office to operationalize
SIPDIS
UNDEF projects (Ref A),and was awaiting a formal US
response. PolCouns noted general US concerns about such an
effort, including the desire not to turn this initiative into
"just another UN office in New Delhi," and to avoid the
appearance that this was a way for India to repatriate its
own donation to the Fund. India's proposal would be
stronger, he emphasized, if there were a specific vision of
additional benefits to democracy promotion that would arise
from the creation of such an office, and if it were clearly
branded as an Indian initiative, as we suggested in the
February 22 non-paper that Under Secretary Burns presented.
5. (C) In response, Arora reiterated the GOI's view that the
proposed office would be a center for democracy promotion,
not simply a management office for UNDEF. New Delhi had not
yet finalized any detailed concept, but would be able to
prepare a non-paper to outline its ideas if it would be
helpful, he said. In the meantime, the GOI had made the
proposal in the Global Issues Forum in order to get a US
reaction, and would appreciate feedback from the USG. India
would eventually make such a proposal to the UNDEF Advisory
Board, but since the US and India had "led the way" on the
Fund, New Delhi would appreciate an initial response from
Washington.
BMENA Initiative
--------------
6. (C) PolCouns raised the question of India joining the
Foundation for the Future of the Broader Middle East and
North African Initiative (BMENA) as a contributing partner
(Ref B),emphasizing the strong role India could play as an
example of democracy in an Asian setting. Arora expressed
interest and noted that MEA was still reviewing the idea and
would convey a considered response later. The MEA Americas
NEW DELHI 00001738 002 OF 002
division reported subsequently that India was very eager to
move ahead on democracy promotion activities outlined in the
March 2 Joint Statement, but warned that GOI consensus might
be harder to achieve in regions (like the Middle East) where
India has competing equities (to include a large domestic
Muslim constituency which is skeptical of US policy).
ACTION REQUEST: RESPONSE TO INDIAN PROPOSAL
--------------
7. (C) Charge will meet on March 14 with Minister of State
for External Affairs Anand Sharma, who has taken a leading
role in promoting the Global Democracy Initiative within the
Indian system. Post would appreciate Washington guidance on
any US reaction to the New Delhi UNDEF office proposal, as
well as other feedback from the UNDEF Advisory Board meeting,
looking ahead to the June meeting and our shared desire to
operationalize the fund as quickly as possible.
8. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
BLAKE