BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH INDIA PR ON DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000671

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF AA
SUBJECT: BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH INDIA PR ON DEMOCRACY
CAUCUS, UN BUDGET, AFGHANISTAN AND SC REFORM

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Khalilzad met with Indian PermRep
Sen on July 24. They discussed possible initial members in
the UN democracy caucus and shared concern regarding UN
budget practices. India offered to do more on Afghanistan if
needed, and pointedly asked when the U.S. would be as open in
support of an Indian permanent seat in the Security Council
as it is with Japan. Discussion on Burma is at reftel. End
summary.

UN DEMOCRACY CAUCUS


2. (C) Ambassadors Khalilzad and Sen began with the UN
Democracy Caucus, and agreed that they should finalize the
list of countries that would work on a common agenda of
support for human rights, democracy, and women,s rights.
The Indian Mission had developed a non-paper that outlines
the composition, structure, and agenda for this group. As
initially proposed by India, the group would initially
include the U.S., India, Australia, Japan, Qatar, Mozambique,
Poland, South Korea, Mali, Chile, Portugal, UK, Brazil,
Mexico, Tanzania, and Senegal. The Ambassador said the U.S.
agreed with the list of proposed countries but suggested that
Qatar not be included in the group because it is not a member
of the Community of Democracies (CD). The Ambassador also
proposed that India consider additional countries, including
Canada and Lithuania and other Community of Democracies
Convening Group members such as the Czech Republic, Mongolia,
Cape Verde, and Morocco. For regional balance, the
Ambassador asked Sen to consider including another Latin
American country, El Salvador, which is also a member of the
CD Convening Group. Ambassador Sen responded that due to
concerns regarding the upcoming elections in El Salvador, he
was not sure whether El Salvador should be included in the
group. He indicated that he would take El Salvador under
consideration and get back to us. Excluding El Salvador, the
group would be comprised of the U.S., Canada, 4 African
countries (Cape Verde, Mali, Morocco, and Mozambique),4 East
Asia and Pacific countries (Australia, India, Japan, and the
Philippines),4 European countries (Lithuania, Poland,
Portugal, and the UK),and 3 Latin American countries
(Brazil, Chile, and Mexico). The U.S. and India agreed to
convene an initial meeting of the group in late August. Sen
noted that the invitation should be from either the U.S. or
India. Ambassador Khalilzad said that he would consider
whether the U.S. should send out the initial invitation and
would get back to Ambassador Sen on this issue. Both
ambassadors agreed that initially, the group should try not
to be too ambitious but instead take on more targeted
manageable issues.

UN BUDGET


3. (C) Ambassador Khalilzad expressed serious concern about
the piecemeal budgeting process undertaken by the Secretary
General during the last biennium budget process for
2008-2009. The budgeting process is disjointed and with many
players involved it becomes difficult to discern the
Secretary General,s priorities. The UN budget for 2008-2009
amounts to 4.2 billion. Because of potential "add-ons" by
member states, another 1.1 billion could be added to the
total budget before the end of 2008. These "add-ons" could
add as much as 25 per cent over the original cost of the
biennium budget. Ambassador Sen stated that he did not
believe the add-ons coupled with the current budgeting
practice would be sustainable. He offered to work with the
U.S. on this issue.

AFGHANISTAN


4. (C) The Ambassador stressed U.S. support for SRSG Kai Eide
and UNAMA, including Eide,s expansion plans. Sen said India
strongly supports the UN,s efforts in Afghanistan, and views
Afghanistan as an "existential priority." He added that
India is prepared to do more in Afghanistan, including "big
projects." Sen urged the U.S. and/or Afghanistan to approach
India with requests; India would look at any requests with
great seriousness and openness.

SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM


5. (C) Sen brought up Security Council reform and asked when
the U.S. would be as openly supportive of India as it is with
Japan for a permanent seat in the Security Council. Sen
criticized Italy and Pakistan for their insistence only on
consultations rather than negotiations on Security Council
reform. This was not acceptable; India supported a balance
of consultations and negotiations. The Ambassador said the
U.S. supports intergovernmental negotiations, with all
options on the table. But the U.S. believed that there is a
need for a framework agreement. Both this agreement and the
intergovenmental negotiations needed to take place in the
open-ended working group. He added that Security Council
reform must be in the context of broad reform of the UN.
Khalilzad