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