HIZBOLLAH AND HAMAS DELEGATES PARTICIPATE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001275

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR IS IR IN
SUBJECT: HIZBOLLAH AND HAMAS DELEGATES PARTICIPATE IN
CONFERENCE ON MIDDLE-EAST


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Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Delegates of the "International Conference
on War, Imperialism and Resistance: West Asia," held in New
Delhi March 12-14, adopted a resolution urging the Indian
government to change its Middle East policy, break ties with
Israel, and promote dialogue with Iran. Hizbollah spokesman
Ali Fayyad reportedly spoke on Monday at the conference,
which the press said also hosted representatives from Hamas,
and included delegates from Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, the
UK, Pakistan and Palestine. Though it received only a
limited amount of press coverage in India, the news articles
that did appear were replete with negative rhetoric on U.S.
foreign policy and Israel. Incidentally, the conference
began one day before the Indo-Israeli Joint Working Group on
Terrorism met in New Delhi. While the Government of India
(GOI) was not known to be directly involved, the conference
was allegedly sponsored in part by the Communist Party of
India - Marxist (CPI-M) and the India Arab Cultural Center,
which is supported by the Indian Ministry of Human Resource
Development. Professor Qamar Agha of Jamia Millia Islamia
University (JMIU),who attended the first day of the
conference, described it as "heavy on rhetoric and short on
information." We have requested an explanation from the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),and the Department may
wish to raise an objection with the Indian Embassy. END
SUMMARY.

Hizbollah Leader Encourages India to Resist U.S. Influence in
the Middle East
--------------


2. (U) Speaking Monday at the "International Conference on
War, Imperialism and Resistance: West Asia," Hizbollah
spokesman Ali Fayyad reportedly said, "The international
front against the U.S. hegemony is not based on ideology or
religion, it is a political alliance to face the challenge
posed by the U.S. and Israel." (Note: India uses the term
"West Asia" to describe the Middle East. End note.) Fayyad
reportedly told "The Indian Express" that "India is one of
the biggest countries and it can use its position to play a
more positive role in international affairs by resisting U.S.
influence in West Asia." Professor Clovis Maksoud of the
American University in Washington also addressed the
conference, reportedly stating, "After 9/11, the U.S. lost
the art of diplomatic persuasion and became addicted to
policy of dictation."

Delegates Demand That New Delhi Change Its Middle East Policy
--------------


3. (U) Delegates passed a resolution at the conclusion of
the conference, urging New Delhi to change its Middle East
policy, not to succumb to U.S. pressure, break its military
and security ties with Israel, and stop supporting the
"puppet regime" in Iraq, according to press reports. On the
Iran crisis, the resolution reportedly states, "India should

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play its role to promote such a dialogue that would help to
resolve the crisis peacefully. We assert the right of Iran
for peaceful use (sic) of nuclear energy. We believe the
only way to address the nuclear issue of Iran is through
negotiations and dialogue." The resolution ordered an end to
the "illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine," demanded that
the U.S. and its allies be held accountable for "the illegal
invasion and occupation of Iraq, human rights violations and
attempts to change the country's economy, and called for "the
immediate and unconditional withdrawal of U.S. and
'coalition' troops from Iraq," stated "The Hindu."

Sponsored by the Left...and the Government?
--------------


4. (U) The conference was sponsored by the "Committee on
War, Imperialism and Resistance: West Asia," which has been
described in the press as a "committee of like-minded people
who are opposed to 'U.S. imperialism.'" Professor Qamar Agha
of JMIU told Poloff that the conference had been sponsored by
the CPI-M and various "non-governmental (NGO) agencies."
These agencies include the India Arab Cultural Center (IACC),
Jamia Millia Islamia, Focus on Global South, All-India Bank
Employees' Association, Women Unlimited, the Institute of
Social Sciences, EMS Research Foundation, Al-Kasaba
International Film Festival (Ramallah),Magic Lantern
Foundation (India),Trans National Institute, AIPSO, NTUI and
the Steel Authority of India Limited, according to "The Asian
Age." The IACC was set up in February of this year at JMIU,
and is reportedly funded by the GOI's University Grants
Commission (UGC),as well as the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD),whose Minister, Arjun Singh, promised to
found the center during a June 2006 visit to the United Arab
Emirates.

U.S. and Israel Bashing Heavy on the Agenda
--------------


5. (C) Agha told Poloff that the conference was made up of
Leftists, nationalists and Islamists, though a few
pro-Americans were in attendance. The conference was "heavy
on rhetoric and short on information," complained Agha, who
noted that he had tried to converse with Fayyad, but found it
difficult as the Hizbollah spokesman did not speak English
and did not have a personal translator. Dr. Kumaraswamy,
Professor of West Asian and African Studies at Jawaharlal
Nehru University, told Poloff that he had purposely avoided
the conference, noting that the agenda of the conference was
"very clearly oriented toward bashing" of the U.S. and
Israel. The irony of such a conference taking place one day
before the Indo-Israel Joint Working Group on Terrorism was
scheduled to meet in New Delhi was not lost on the "Indian
Express," which reported that it is possible Fayyad's
presence in India "will irritate the Israelis," and
editorialized that the Left's Israel-bashing was detrimental
to India's national security interests in light of Israel's
role as a key defense supplier.

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India Envoy to the Middle East: "India Hasn't Banned
Hizbollah"
--------------


6. Interviewed by the "Indian Express," Ambassador Chinmaya
Gharekhan, the GOI's special envoy on the Middle East
reportedly stated, "I don't think his (Fayyad's) presence
will embarrass the government. Besides, India hasn't banned
Hizbollah." Dr. Kumaraswamy reminded Poloff that Gharekhan
had visited Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, where he met
President Abbas, in August 2006. Kumaraswamy indicated that
Gharekhan had made "pro-Hizbollah and anti-Israeli"
statements at the time, and that he had declined to visit
Israel.

Comment: Nothing Likely to Change
--------------


7. (C) Schizophrenic GOI public policy on the Middle East is
not likely to change as a result of this conference and the
resolution it produced. As Congress Member of Parliament
Raashid Alvi told Poloff, the current government is not
influenced by the Left as far as foreign policy is concerned,
as evinced by the Chief of Army Staff's recent visit to
Israel. While conferences involving anti-U.S. and
anti-Israel rhetoric are not unheard of in New Delhi, this is
the first time representatives of Hizbollah and Hamas have
been invited to such a gathering. While Post has no evidence
to link the sponsorship or funding of this conference with
the witting acquiescence of the GOI, and it appears the
organizing committee consisted of Congress' nemeses, we will
continue to investigate governmental ties with the IACC and
the conferences and meetings it sponsors. We have also
demanded an explanation from the MEA, and the Department may
wish to do so as well with the Indian Embassy. END COMMENT.





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