A/S BOUCHER PUSHES INDIA ON NAM, UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005558

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UN IN
SUBJECT: A/S BOUCHER PUSHES INDIA ON NAM, UN

Classified By: Charge Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary. In an August 7 meeting with Indian MEA Joint
Secretary (JS) Americas Dr. S. Jaishankar, A/S Boucher:

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-- urged India to use its influence in the upcoming Havana
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit as a positive force to curb
attempts at unhelpful resolutions, such as supporting Iran's
right to nuclear development;

-- encouraged India to consider the optics of attending the
Cuba summit, in the context of on-going Senate deliberations
of the civil-nuclear agreement; and

-- reminded Jaishankar that the U.S. still seeks India's
support for Guatemala's Security Council candidacy.

Jaishankar:

-- described India's limited ability to affect Non-Aligned
Movement deliberations, while noting examples where India has
played a balancing role;

-- suggested the U.S. "have a degree of realism" in what it
expects from the summit;

-- would not confirm who would represent India at the Cuba
summit nor the UN General Assembly, however suggested Prime
Minister Singh would go to Cuba and not go to New York;

-- did not indicate India's position on Guatemala's UNSC
candidacy. End Summary.


2. (C) In light of a meeting with Additional Secretary for
International Organizations K.C. Singh being canceled at the
last minute, A/S Boucher discussed the upcoming Non-Aligned
Movement Havana summit and UN General Assembly with Americas
Joint Secretary Jaishankar (note: other topics covered in the
Jaishankar meeting are being reported septel). Noting that
several Non-Aligned Movement members could be expected to
propose unhelpful resolutions, such as supporting Iran's
right to nuclear development or support for Hezbollah without
mentioning terrorism, A/S Boucher pointed out to Jaishankar
that reaction in the U.S. to India's attendance at the Cuba
summit could likely be problematic for India's delegation to
New York, particularly in the context of flourishing
bilateral relations and pending Senate action on
civil-nuclear legislation. A/S Boucher also urged India to
be a positive force in influencing Non-Aligned groups'
resolutions.


3. (C) Jaishankar said he believed India's position on the
movement had been made clear in the past, and stated India
has worked effectively to bring balance in the group, citing
India's back-room success -- along with Singapore and Jamaica
-- at significantly tempering a pro-Iranian resolution at the
last summit in Kuala Lumpur. "It may not console the U.S.,"
he said, but India played a role in softening the final
language. Jaishankar said similar harmful resolutions may be
pushed through by countries who are aggressive in Havana, and
while India will assert its position, "you need to have a
degree of realism about what will happen." A/S Boucher cited

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the extent to which the U.S. and India share opinions on
issues such as Iranian nuclear development, counter-terrorism
and other multilateral concerns, but noted that despite
India's policy, resolutions emanating from fora such as the
Non-Aligned Movement summit don't reflect our shared
interests.


4. (C) Jaishankar said it is still too early to tell if Prime
Minister Singh will attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit,
but added that in the current domestic political environment
"I would be surprised if he doesn't go." Jaishankar then
said Prime Minister Singh did not seem enthusiastic about
attending the UN General Assembly. Prime Minister Singh's
motivation the last two years in attending the General
Assembly was to have meetings with President Bush and
President Musharraf, Jaishankar said. However, Jaishankar
clarified that "We don't see New York as the U.S.,"
suggesting the General Assembly didn't hold the same allure
for the Prime Minister as direct bilateral talk would. A/S
Boucher noted that Prime Minister Singh's absence in New
York, particularly because Singh also wears the hat of
foreign minister, would necessitate consideration on how to
manage the bilateral dialogue in New York, and asked
Jaishankar to keep us informed on who would attend the
General Assembly. A/S Boucher also asked to keep
communication between the U.S. and India open on the
Non-Aligned Movement summit.


5. (C) A/S Boucher reminded Jaishankar that the U.S. was
still awaiting a reply to our demarche on Guatemala's
candidacy for the Security Council. Jaishankar affirmed that
India has yet to formulate a response.


6. (U) A/S Boucher has cleared this message.
PYATT