INDIA SIGNALS LUKEWARM -- BUT UNCOMMITTED --

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001665 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING CAPTION) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI IN SUBJECT: INDIA SIGNALS LUKEWARM -- BUT UNCOMMITTED -- SUPPORT FOR SWING IN IOM DG RACE REF: A. (A) NEW DELHI 01610 ¶B. (B) SECSTATE 54603 ¶1. (SBU) In a meeting with the Ambassador on June 17, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon gave a luke-warm affirmation of India's support for Ambassador Bill Swing as the new Director General (DG) of the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM),however would not formally commit. After Ambassador Mulford recounted Ambassador Swing's distinguished career, Menon replied that the GOI expects its Permanent Representative to UNVIE to report on the candidates on June 17 and then it will make a final determination. Menon said he had heard that the incumbent DG Brunson McKinley "seems to have the momentum." Ambassador clarified that although McKinley is a U.S. citizen, the USG candidate is Ambassador Swing. After the Ambassador pressed further, Menon said "we should have no problem supporting Ambassador Swing." ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Given Menon's non-committal reply, Post is not confident India intends to vote for Ambassador Swing. As Menon suggested, Ambassador Kumar in Vienna will be influential in determining who India ultimately supports. Post recommends that, if still possible, US UNVIE intervene with Ambassador Kumar. End Comment. MULFORD