US embassy cable - 04ROME2926

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 002926 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
PASS USDA FAS FOR U/S PENN, JBUTLER, MCHAMBLISS, LREICH, 
RHUGHES; 
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, DAS MILLER, IO/EDA, E, EB; 
AID FOR EGAT, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP; 
NEW DELHI FOR AGCOUNS RUSSELL AND POLCOUNS PYATT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2009 
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, PREL, KUNR, IN, FAO 
SUBJECT:  FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION: INDIA'S PERMREP 
FLOATS POSSIBLE INDIAN CANDIDATES 
 
REF: ROME 2873 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Tony P. Hall for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U)  This is an action message.  See para 10 below. 
 
2.  (C)  Summary:  Indian Permrep Himachal Som requested a 
meeting with Ambassador Hall on July 26 to discuss options 
for a possible Indian candidacy to succeed Senegal's Jacques 
Diouf as Director General (DG) of FAO.  Som said the GOI 
supports term limits for UN agency heads, and is concerned 
that another term for Diouf would result in benign neglect 
(or worse) of FAO by major donors.  He explained that India 
might be able to present a strong candidate, mentioning two 
possible names; but he added that the GOI is unlikely to 
pursue this unless it is reasonably confident that an Indian 
candidacy has a chance of success, which would at minimum 
require strong USG and EU support. 
 
3.  (C)  Ambassador Hall reiterated the firm USG commitment 
to term limits as a matter of principle, and reviewed our 
efforts to encourage nominations of alternative candidates. 
He noted, however, that Diouf has already lined up 
considerable, possibly sufficient G-77 support, and any 
challenger would need to run a vigorous, against-the-odds 
campaign.  In U.S. Mission's view, the Indian Permrep's 
proposals are welcome, but tardy.  Som had not done his 
homework to assess the current state of play, and was 
probably at too early a stage in his thinking to be able to 
table a serious initiative.  This was a discussion we should 
have had four months ago.  End summary. 
 
4.  (C)  Som began the discussion with Ambassador Hall and 
key U.S. Mission staff by mentioning India's UNGA votes in 
favor of term limits.  He said that the GOI, while 
recognizing that circumstances might differ at the 
specialized UN agencies, disagrees with the notion that the 
incumbent DG at FAO should be exempted from such limits. 
Moreover, he added, the Indians are seriously worried that 
another six -- and possibly even ten -- years under Diouf 
would seriously undermine support for FAO among the major 
contributors and cause lasting harm to the organization.  Som 
said he feared another Diouf term would result in benign 
neglect by key contributors, at best, or a repetition of 
UNESCO's experience, at worst.   (Note: The term limits 
amendment to the FAO Constitution does not go into effect 
until January 2006 -- i.e., after the DG election -- and the 
generally accepted view in Rome is that it does not apply 
retroactively.  By this logic, Diouf, like any other 
candidate, would be eligible for a six-year term, followed by 
a possible four-year, final term.  See reftel for further 
background.  End note.) 
 
5.  (C)  The Indian Permrep then laid out the case for a 
possible Indian candidacy, noting India's population size and 
democratic system, its agricultural and technical expertise, 
its pivotal role as a both a donor and recipient of 
international aid, and its current lack of a top UN position. 
He mentioned two possible candidates, noting that neither 
had yet been approached: 
 
-- Dr. M.S. Swaminathan: father of the Green Revolution in 
India, widely respected, already eighty but very energetic; 
and 
 
-- Dr. Amrita Patel, Chairperson of the National Dairy 
Development Board, a dynamic veterinarian in her fifties who 
brings a strong interest in cooperatives and a concern for 
gender issues. 
 
6.  (C)  Som said he had raised the idea of an Indian 
candidate tentatively with his Foreign Minister recently, 
whose immediate question was whether such a candidacy could 
be successful.  Som admitted that, following the recent 
elections, the minority government in India was in a weak 
position and could not afford a failed candidacy.  There is 
also concern in the GOI about potential harm to India's 
relations with Africa, which it has worked hard to cultivate. 
Som concluded that, with these potential downsides, he would 
not be able to recommend pursuing a candidacy without "more 
than passive support" from the U.S. and other key OECD 
members.  He also foresaw possible USG support for an Indian 
candidate for the FAO position as a major step forward in 
U.S.-Indian relations. 
 
7.  (C)  Ambassador Hall responded by restating the USG 
commitment to term limits and reviewing U.S. efforts to 
encourage nominations of other candidates.  He noted that no 
serious candidates had appeared thus far; meanwhile, Diouf 
had already lined up substantial G-77 support.  He agreed 
with Som that others are unlikely to back a challenger unless 
there is some assurance of a successful outcome, and this 
would require mounting a serious campaign.  The Ambassador 
engaged to refer Som's proposals to Washington agencies, and 
to report back the reaction received. 
 
8.  (C)  Comment:  The Indian Ambassador's visit is the first 
serious proposal of an alternative candidate we have received 
at the U.S. Mission (though other names have been mentioned 
in passing).  Yet even this trial balloon seems fairly limp, 
with Som's seeming unawareness of Diouf's recent successes in 
lining up Caribbean and Islamic countries' endorsements, his 
lack of information about vacillation on term limits within 
the EU, and his failure thus far to even approach tentative 
Indian candidates. 
 
9.  (C)  Comment, Continued:  As pointed out in reftel, any 
serious attempt to mount a candidacy at this relatively late 
stage will require running against the odds to successfully 
break unity within several G-77 regional groups.  Any 
octogenarian (short of Mandela), or other less than gung-ho 
candidate with money, energy, time, organization, and full 
national support is not going to make the grade.  Before any 
OECD members will openly consider an Indian candidate, 
moreover, they will want to see whether India has the Asia 
Group behind it.  That is not yet the case, and achieving 
even that first step could require weeks or longer, given the 
summer holiday season now upon us.  In other words, the game 
is late for testing the waters, as was Som,s apparent 
objective for this meeting.  End comment. 
 
10.  (U)  Action request:  We would welcome Washington and 
Embassy New Delhi comments on this subject. 
 
Visit Rome's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m 
 
HALL 
 
 
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2004ROME02926 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL