SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 25,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 101142

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2019
TAGS: IN PGOV PREF PREL
SUBJECT: SCA ASSISTANT SECRETARY BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 25,
2009 MEETING WITH BHUTANESE FOREIGN MINISTER TSHERING

Classified By: A/S ROBLAKE


1. (SBU) Participants:

U.S.
Assistant Secretary Robert O. Blake, Jr.
Don Camp, UNGA Senior Area Advisor
Matthew Lowe, SCA Special Assistant
Elena Soderblom, Bureau Notetaker

Bhutan
Foreign Minister Ugyen Tshering
Counsellor Tshewang Dorji
Bhutanese Mission Notetaker Tobgay


2. (C) SUMMARY. In SCA A/S Blake's September 25 meeting
with Foreign Minister Ugyen Tshering on the margins of the UN
General Assembly, Foreign Minister Tshering stated that
Bhutan would continue to move "step-by-step" toward
democracy. Tshering remarked that climate change will be the
top priority at the upcoming SAARC summit hosted by Bhutan.
He stated that the September 21 earthquake in Bhutan caused
serious infrastructure damage, and that Bhutan would continue
to request assistance from international donors (but he made
no request to the U.S.). He requested enhanced educational
exchanges to build on the start of the Fulbright program.
A/S Blake offered disaster relief and welcomed the prospect
of greater exchanges between Bhutan and the United States.
He pressed the Foreign Minister to repatriate elderly
refugees in Nepal. END SUMMARY.

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"STEP-BY-STEP" TOWARD DEMOCRACY
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3. (C) Tshering recounted the 2008 elections, which marked
the deliberate, "step-by-step" process toward a
constitutional monarchy. He remarked that the democratic
transition has gone well, despite some "grumblings."
Tshering said that he was proud of Bhutan,s successful
National Assembly elections in March 2008 which were
completed in one day. He contrasted this with the situation
in other countries, which spent weeks agonizing over
electoral results. Tshering attributed Bhutan's efficient
electoral process to the country's voting machines, which
India had donated.

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CLIMATE CHANGE AT 2010 SAARC SUMMIT
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4. (C) He noted that Bhutan will chair the April 2010 South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit,
which he expected will focus on climate change. He recounted
that Bhutan took the chairmanship when the new Maldives
government realized it lacked the financial resources to host
the summit. Although the Bhutanese had previously lacked the
educated personnel and infrastructure, the newly elected
government realized that, after its successful elections, it
would "never be more ready."


5. (C) Tshering expressed concern about melting glaciers,
noting the danger of eroding natural dams of glacial lakes,
Bhutan's dependence on water for energy, and the attendant
need to fight mountain erosion. He stated that Bhutan
continues to work on its adaptation and mitigation strategy,
particularly in anticipation of the December 2009 Copenhagen
Summit, which Bhutan's prime minister will attend. He noted
that climate change is especially important to South Asia,
but lamented the lack of broad agreements or coordinated
regional strategy. He acknowledged the dysfunctional nature
of SAARC, but expressed hope that Bhutan could help advance
the region's multilateral relationships at the level of
practical cooperation. Tshering further stated that he
appreciated the growing U.S. focus on South Asia. A/S Blake
echoed the importance of maintaining a focus on South Asia,
and stated our hope that India will take a lead role in
stabilizing the region by engaging its neighbors.


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EARTHQUAKE
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6. (C) Tshering reported that twelve people had died in the
6.1 earthquake that shook Bhutan on September 21, adding that
he was thankful that the loss of human life was not greater.
He related that the earthquake caused infrastructure damage,
a major setback to Bhutan. He stated that Bhutan will work
first to rebuild buildings and communications systems.
Tshering noted that Bhutan does not have a procedure in place
for declaring disasters, and said that Bhutan will continue
to request assistance from international donors to offset the
costs of reconstruction. Blake explained that the U.S.
frequently offers disaster relief, and would help Bhutan if
asked (Tshering made no request).

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BHUTANESE REFUGEES
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7. (C) Blake noted that the U.S. has so far resettled over
17,000 Bhutanese refugees from Nepal and will continue to
help more. Blake requested that Bhutan repatriate some
refugees, particularly the elderly who call Bhutan home, as a
humanitarian gesture. Tshering thanked the U.S. for the
"bold decision" and compassionate gesture in helping the
refugees. He stated that he will take Blake's request back
to his government and that the Government of Bhutan will
address this issue within the broader context of bilateral
relations with Nepal.

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EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES
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8. (C) Blake congratulated Bhutan on its acceptance of a
U.S. Fulbright scholar in 2009, and expressed hope that there
will be scope for more such exchanges. Tshering stressed his
appreciation of the educational exchange opportunities and
recalled that he had himself benefited from an education in
the U.S. He related that an ongoing exchange program has
facilitated the higher education of 9-12 Bhutanese students
at the University of Texas at El Paso. He also reported that
several international students currently study in Bhutan,
including some from Korea, Japan and Maldives, as well as one
student from the University of Texas at El Paso. He opined
that when donors ask the best way to assist Bhutan, he
replies that increasing opportunities overseas gives
Bhutanese a much broader education. He suggested doubling
the Fulbright exchanges, enhancing the International Visitor
Leadership program, and increasing U.S. scholarships. Blake
welcomed a stronger educational partnership between the U.S.
and Bhutan. While the U.S. government oversees the Fulbright
program, it has minimal involvement in education, and
Bhutanese students themselves could also explore the many
scholarships offered by U.S. universities, Blake advised.
CLINTON