AMBASSADOR TAHIR-KHELI ENCOURAGES INDO-US

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001401 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SECSTATE RICE, U/S KAREN HUGHES, U/S PAULA DOBRIANSKY, U/S NICK BURNS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV IN SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TAHIR-KHELI ENCOURAGES INDO-US COOPERATION AT THE UN Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In separate meetings, Senior Adviser to the Secretary Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli met with Ministry of SIPDIS External Affairs (MEA) officials March 22 to discuss a number of UN-related issues, including: - India's role on the UN Human Rights Council - Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - Indian Support for U.S. UN initiatives - UN Security Council reform - India's peacekeeping record in Sudan and the People's Democratic Republic of the Congo - An all-female Indian police unit in Liberia Ambassador Tahir-Kheli said that she envisioned India as assuming a leadership role among the G77 nations. Joint Secretary Puri stated that India would take the most SIPDIS constructive approach possible in the UN. Joint Secretary Arora noted that UN member states should be focused on "forward movement" toward reform of the UN Security Council. END SUMMARY. India Should Have a Productive Role in the UN Human Rights Council -------------- ¶2. (C) In a March 22 meeting with MEA Joint Secretary (UN Economic and Social) Manjeev Singh Puri, Ambassador Tahir-Kheli said that the new proactive interaction between the U.S. and India should extend to the United Nations, and with the arrival of new Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, it was an opportune time to build a new relationship. She envisioned India as assuming a leadership role among the G77 nations, which could mitigate some of the "shrill" talk generated by fellow G77 members. She added that India could also pursue a more productive role as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, particularly in light of the upcoming vote in Geneva for a resolution on Darfur. The 1945 UN Charter "Weighted In Favor of the P5" -------------- ¶3. (C) Puri said that India wishes Ban all the best for this term, but advised that dialogue and consultations are necessary to prepare the new -- "too new" -- Secretary General for his duties. As far as general participation in the United Nations is concerned, Puri reassured that India "will always try to take the most constructive approach possible," including as a G77 member. He added, however, �0A;that the Cold War was over and the 1945 UN Charter, "weighted in favor of the P5," did not reflect the legitimate concerns of today's UN member countries. He said that the UN must be fair and transparent, "but at the end of the day, each nation must pursue its own interests." Puri hoped that the five percent of issues on which the U.S. and India disagree at the UN do not overshadow the 95 percent where there is agreement. NEW DELHI 00001401 002 OF 003 Indo-U.S. Coordination On UN Matters -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli replied that the U.S. wants the UN to be a properly functioning organization as well. To that end, she reminded Puri that the U.S. "puts its money where its mouth is" by funding the UN more than any other country does. She said that the U.S. looks forward to India's support on crucial issues at the UN as part of an improving and expanding relationship between the U.S. and India. Forward Movement Key on UN Security Council Reform -------------- ¶5. (C) In a separate meeting with MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) Sanjiv Arora, Ambassador Tahir-Kheli raised the issue of UN Security Council (UNSC) reform. Arora noted that the G4 (Japan, Germany, Brazil, and India) members have regular consultations with each other and bi-laterally with other countries. He noted that a German delegation had been in New Delhi at the end of February, and MEA Additional Secretary (International Organizations) K.C. Singh had been SIPDIS to Tokyo recently. Arora said the central issue on which all member states should be focused was to achieve forward movement. "This is an issue of great significance to the international community," he said. There must be expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, and there must be a model "which can muster maximum support." Within the G4, serious discussions were taking place to see if modifications could be made to the resolution on reform which was tabled and re-tabled at the 59th and 60th sessions of the UN General Assembly. Representation would not necessarily have to be based entirely on region, but representation needed to be balanced, argued Arora, stressing that it should include additional permanent and non-permanent UNSC members. The views of the current Permanent Five members of the UNSC needed to be taken under consideration as well, he added. "Our endeavor and hope is that, in the remaining months of the current session, we will be focused on this issue," underlined the Joint Secretary, observing that the need for reform is universal. "No one talks of the status quo," he said. Indian Peacekeeping in Sudan and The People's Democratic Republic of the Congo -------------- ¶6. (C) Turning to Sudan, Arora remarked that India had contributed a large number of troops, and noted that the force commander in Sudan was from the Indian Army. He indicated that India would proceed cautiously, stating that India would like to see an unambiguous concurrence by the Government of Sudan on a resolution, implying that India preferred a peacekeeping versus a peacemaking role. Arora NEW DELHI 00001401 003 OF 003 pointed out that, in the People's Democratic Republic of the Congo, India had been involved in promoting successful free and fair elections. All-Female Police Unit in Liberia -------------- ¶7. (C) Arora gave details on the specialized female "Formed Police Unit" that India had deployed alongside UN peacekeepers in Liberia. The unit includes 125 persons, including over 100 females and some male technical and support staff, according to Arora. Arora said that the unit had been received positively, and had been highlighted by the press. Ambassador Tahir-Kheli responded that the unit was a great model for women in peacekeeping where women and children are particularly vulnerable in conflict zones. (septel) Looking Forward to Future Discussions -------------- ¶8. (C) Arora also relayed that he was looking forward to the visit of James Warlick, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organizations, which would allow for more discussion on UN issues. ¶9. (U) This message was approved by Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli. MULFORD