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

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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

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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

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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
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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"
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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,
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.

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Indo-U.S. Coordination On UN Matters
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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
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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

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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
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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

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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
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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
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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