Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI3007
2006-05-03 07:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
GOI SHARES ITS SELECTION CRITERIA FOR NEXT UNSYG
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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)
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
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