GOI SHARES ITS SELECTION CRITERIA FOR NEXT UNSYG

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003007 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/B E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM UNGA KUNR PINR IN SUBJECT: GOI SHARES ITS SELECTION CRITERIA FOR NEXT UNSYG Classified By: DCM Robert Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) In a May 2 meeting with PolCouns and Poloff, MEA Joint Secretary (United Nations/Political) Sanjiv Arora shared the GOI's thinking on who it will support as the next UN Secretary-General. Avoiding commenting on any declared or stealth candidates (including UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Shashi Tharoor),Arora listed the several qualities the GOI will look for in the candidate it chooses to support: -- A candidate from an Asian country -- "Impeccable" credentials in terms of probity and reputation -- Evinces a focus on developing countries -- Is "up to the challenge" of UN reform ¶2. (C) Arora reported that the Asian and African UN caucuses support that the next UNSYG should be an Asian candidate -- he noted that U Thant (1961-1971) was the last Asian UNSYG. He underlined that the GOI is interested in ensuring the position goes to a candidate that fits the criteria, and not to any specific person who has (or has not yet) expressed interest. ¶3. (C) PolCouns queried Arora if the GOI had any interest in the candidacy of wunderkind/best-selling author Tharoor who recently visited Delhi for a literary conference. Arora noted that the London-born Tharoor -- who has logged almost 30 years at the UN -- "retains his Indian passport" (and therefore meets at least the first GOI requirement),but he was clearly not as yet invested in Tharoor as a potential candidate. He added that "When we (at MEA) discuss candidates, we discuss the declared candidates," suggesting that Tharoor had not been ruled out as a prospect. Arora also remarked that Tharoor speaks French, "an unwritten requirement for the position." While underplaying that Tharoor had spoken to his many GOI friends during his recent visit to Delhi, Arora gave no hint that MEA was pushing him as a candidate. ¶4. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD