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 NEW DELHI 00001275 001.2 OF 003 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 NEW DELHI 00001275 002.2 OF 003 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. NEW DELHI 00001275 003.2 OF 003 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. PYATT