ADCM MEETS BANGLADESH'S DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000380 SIPDIS SIPDIS WH FOR USTR: ADINA ADLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018 TAGS: PREL KIPR KPKO GTIP PREF BG SUBJECT: ADCM MEETS BANGLADESH'S DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR UN AFFAIRS REF: A. DHAKA 00288 ¶B. NEW YORK 00267 Classified By: ADCM Jon Danilowicz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General for UN Affairs requested a meeting with A/DCM to discuss the GOB,s previous request for US support for the Bangladesh candidate for WIPO Director General, Dr. Toufiq Ali. (REFTEL A.) Beyond WIPO, topics discussed included IPR protection in Bangladesh, the IOM DG position, candidates for UN positions on peacekeeping, contributions to UNAMID, and diplomatic recognition of Kosovo. Side topics included the upcoming visit of USUN (Rome) Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez, and the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser,s upcoming trip to the UN and Europe. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On March 25, ADCM and IPR officer (note-taker) met Masud Bin Momen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General for UN Affairs. Momen stated that a USG interagency group in Washington had met on March 20 with Dr. Toufiq Ali, Bangladesh,s candidate for the WIPO Director General position. Momen noted that the USG has had issues with WIPO in the past, based on its perceived developing country bias. He claimed that the integrity of the current WIPO Director General had been called into question by allegations of corruption. Momen acknowledged that there are at least 18 other candidates for the position, including a few insider candidates from European countries. He said it was perceived by some countries that the next WIPO Director General should be from an Asian country. ¶3. (C) In response to Momem,s pitch, ADCM explained that Bangladesh,s poor performance on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection is a growing concern for US industry. IPR Officer noted that the Bangladesh,s domestic IPR agencies lack sufficient capacity and resources to their jobs, and that bringing Bangladesh to compliance with TRIPs obligations within the next five years will be a challenge. Momen asked how Bangladesh,s levels of piracy compared to other countries in the region; IPR officer cited industry studies that rank Bangladesh as the worst country in Asia for software piracy, and the fact that all US content optical disks sold in Bangladesh are illegal. ADCM explained that supporting a WIPO Director General candidate originating from a country with a poor record of IPR protection could convey an inconsistent message. In response, Momem argued that having a Bangladesh WIPO DG would create a positive incentive for additional action on IPR protection, and that their candidate would be in an excellent position to advance IPR in Bangladesh. ¶4. (C) ADCM highlighted recent examples of multilateral issues on which the GOB has not been responsive to USG requests for support. ADCM noted that Bangladesh,s non-response to the USG request for Bangladesh to recognize Kosovo was very disappointing. ADCM asked Momem if the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) was going to support Brunson McKinley for Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for another term. Noting that the USG did not support Brunson McKinley, ADCM asked Momem why Bangladesh remained committed to McKinley for another term. Momem offered that the McKinley had developed a positive relationship with Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury, and that the personal relationship may be one factor contributing to Bangladesh,s support for McKinley. More broadly, Momem said that in general Bangladesh supported US positions; it only diverged when it felt compelled to stick with UN voting blocks such as the OIC, G77, or NAM. He defended this practice by explaining that Bangladesh as a member of these groups played a moderating influence - brokering compromises and influencing these blocs toward positions less directly opposed to the US. ¶5. (C) While thanking Bangladesh for its existing contributions to peacekeeping operation (PKO) in Southern Sudan and Darfur, ADCM raised the issue of the outstanding request from UNAMID for a logistics element. Momem said the Army was favorably disposed toward additional contributions, recognizing Bangladesh,s experience in the region, and advantages as a moderate Muslim country. ADCM noted that current and planned joint exercises between the US and Bangladesh Military positively advanced potential leadership roles for Bangladesh on peacekeeping. Momen confirmed that in fact a Bangladeshi General Officer was being considered for a PKO force commander position. ADCM acknowledged the GOB,s pursuit of appointments within the UN for PKO; specifically the candidacies of Abul Hasan Chowdhury for Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Support and Lt. Gen ATM Zahirul Alam, who is Bangladesh,s candidate for Military Adviser (with a rank of Assistant Secretary General) of UN DPKO. ¶6. (C) ADCM described the upcoming visit of USUN Rome Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez to Bangladesh, framing the visit as an opportunity to highlight the positive work being done by the FAO and WFP in Bangladesh. Noting that Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury would be absent, Momen suggested Ambassador Vasquez meet with Adviser C.S. Karim, who is responsible for the Ministry of Agriculture. ¶7. (C) Momen offered that he would be accompanying Foreign Adviser Chowdhury to New York, where a series of UN meetings were planned, including discussions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and a meeting with the UN Secretary General. (REFTEL B.) Following the UN sessions, Foreign Adviser Chowdhury has a planned stop in Brussels, and possibly Geneva. Momen was not aware of any planned bilateral meetings between the Foreign Adviser and USG officials in New York. Pasi