Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI3499
2006-05-19 12:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
SARAN ARGUES FOR PRESSURE ON MAOISTS, CRITICIZES
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003499
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ALSO FOR AMBASSADOR BOLTON FROM AMBASSADOR MULFORD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC MOPS NP IN
SUBJECT: SARAN ARGUES FOR PRESSURE ON MAOISTS, CRITICIZES
UN APPROACH
REF: A. NEW DELHI 3433
B. USUN 1016
Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003499
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ALSO FOR AMBASSADOR BOLTON FROM AMBASSADOR MULFORD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC MOPS NP IN
SUBJECT: SARAN ARGUES FOR PRESSURE ON MAOISTS, CRITICIZES
UN APPROACH
REF: A. NEW DELHI 3433
B. USUN 1016
Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (U) This is an action request for SCA and USUN. Please
see para 4.
2. (C) Foreign Secretary Saran used a May 19 meeting with the
Ambassador (other topics septel) to explain India's concern
about the current UN Secretariat approach to Nepal and to
appeal for US engagement with the UN to ensure that we are
all pulling in the same direction. Saran argued that the
main challenge now in Nepal is to maintain pressure on the
Maoists, who will enjoy an upper hand over the "squabbling
political parties" when negotiations begin. At that stage,
he added, the "weak lot" that compose the new government of
Nepal "will need all the support it can get." Noting
suggestions from New York and UN envoy Tamrat Samuel that the
UN might move into a more high profile role, Saran cited
Norway and Sri Lanka to argue that mediators inevitably face
pressure to appear "even handed," which would grant
legitimacy to the Maoists.
3. (C) Saran took pains to emphasize that this was not a
simple matter of the GOI seeking to keep the UN out of
"India's backyard" (addressing the accusation that India just
wants to avoid a precedent for Kashmir). Echoing other
conversations we have had (ref A),Saran argued that the UN
would "have an important role to play, especially when the
election exercise begins to take place." He went on to
suggest that the UN was better placed than anyone else to
lead the election effort. However, the UN's ability to play
an independent role would be compromised if the Secretariat
proceeds with plans to brief the Security Council and move to
a more activist posture. With this in mind, Saran reported,
he told Tamrat Samuel "to avoid the temptation of getting
into a mediator's role." Instead, he continued, "the UN
along with us should be on the side of the parties, and not a
referee." He also complained that the UK Mission in New York
seemed to be leading the campaign for a more activist UN
presence in Nepal, a point he also made to the UK High
Commissioner.
4. (C) Action Request: Based on what he had heard from his
mission in New York (ref B) Saran was concerned that the UN
Secretariat did not understand India's pragmatic perspective,
SIPDIS
and viewed the GOI as somehow compromised in Nepal. He
specifically sought US intervention with the UN Secretariat
to urge a more "even handed" approach and to discourage talk
of Security Council discussions and mediation missions.
Given the high degree of convergence between Saran's outlook
and the US perspective on the Maoists, we hope the Department
will view Saran's suggestion favorably. End Action Request.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ALSO FOR AMBASSADOR BOLTON FROM AMBASSADOR MULFORD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC MOPS NP IN
SUBJECT: SARAN ARGUES FOR PRESSURE ON MAOISTS, CRITICIZES
UN APPROACH
REF: A. NEW DELHI 3433
B. USUN 1016
Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (U) This is an action request for SCA and USUN. Please
see para 4.
2. (C) Foreign Secretary Saran used a May 19 meeting with the
Ambassador (other topics septel) to explain India's concern
about the current UN Secretariat approach to Nepal and to
appeal for US engagement with the UN to ensure that we are
all pulling in the same direction. Saran argued that the
main challenge now in Nepal is to maintain pressure on the
Maoists, who will enjoy an upper hand over the "squabbling
political parties" when negotiations begin. At that stage,
he added, the "weak lot" that compose the new government of
Nepal "will need all the support it can get." Noting
suggestions from New York and UN envoy Tamrat Samuel that the
UN might move into a more high profile role, Saran cited
Norway and Sri Lanka to argue that mediators inevitably face
pressure to appear "even handed," which would grant
legitimacy to the Maoists.
3. (C) Saran took pains to emphasize that this was not a
simple matter of the GOI seeking to keep the UN out of
"India's backyard" (addressing the accusation that India just
wants to avoid a precedent for Kashmir). Echoing other
conversations we have had (ref A),Saran argued that the UN
would "have an important role to play, especially when the
election exercise begins to take place." He went on to
suggest that the UN was better placed than anyone else to
lead the election effort. However, the UN's ability to play
an independent role would be compromised if the Secretariat
proceeds with plans to brief the Security Council and move to
a more activist posture. With this in mind, Saran reported,
he told Tamrat Samuel "to avoid the temptation of getting
into a mediator's role." Instead, he continued, "the UN
along with us should be on the side of the parties, and not a
referee." He also complained that the UK Mission in New York
seemed to be leading the campaign for a more activist UN
presence in Nepal, a point he also made to the UK High
Commissioner.
4. (C) Action Request: Based on what he had heard from his
mission in New York (ref B) Saran was concerned that the UN
Secretariat did not understand India's pragmatic perspective,
SIPDIS
and viewed the GOI as somehow compromised in Nepal. He
specifically sought US intervention with the UN Secretariat
to urge a more "even handed" approach and to discourage talk
of Security Council discussions and mediation missions.
Given the high degree of convergence between Saran's outlook
and the US perspective on the Maoists, we hope the Department
will view Saran's suggestion favorably. End Action Request.
MULFORD