US embassy cable - 05ROME857

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000857 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR IO/EDA AND NEA/NGA 
FROM U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2015 
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, KUNR, PINR, PREL, IR, FAO 
SUBJECT: DEPARTING IRANIAN AMBASSADOR MAY SEEK SENIOR FAO 
POST 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Tony P. Hall, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.   (SBU)  Mohammad  Saeid Noori-Naeni, who has served as 
Iran's Ambassador to the UN agencies in Rome since 1994, 
returns to his academic roots in Iran this month to become 
Rector of the University of Tehran.  Indications are that the 
Iranian diplomat, who is popular in Rome, may be 
contemplating a comeback. 
 
2.  (SBU)  We have found Noori to be an effective consensus 
builder who has managed to work closely with both G-77 and 
OEDC delegations in Rome. An articulate leader who combines 
personal charm and diplomatic savvy with technical expertise 
in agricultural economics (Ph.D., Cornell University), Noori 
chaired the WFP Executive Board in 2000 and the FAO Committee 
on World Food Security (CFS) in 1998-2000.  Although he was 
an unsuccessful candidate for President of IFAD in 2001, he 
maintained a high profile at FAO as chairman of the 
negotiations on the contentious Voluntary Guidelines on the 
Right to Food.  Many observers in Rome attributed the 
harmonious outcome of these negotiations in November 2004 to 
Noori's active and balanced chairmanship.  He has been 
especially effective in keeping more radical G-77 permreps in 
check as he argued for pragmatic political solutions. 
 
3.  (C)  We have been told that Noori may become a candidate 
for the position of Independent Chair of the FAO Council, to 
succeed Aziz Mekouar (Morocco) in November 2005.  Noori could 
in many respects be a very strong candidate.  Among 
Rome-based diplomats (and senior officials of the FAO 
Secretariat), he would probably be the hands-down favorite. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
4.  (C)  USUN Rome has worked well with Noori in official 
capacities.  He could be a unifying leader of the Council. He 
has made many attempts to signal good will toward the US 
delegation, and in one recent sitting defended explicitly the 
US position against a barrage from some G-77 members. 
Clearly, Noori's nationality will be an issue for us. The 
question is whether we would be willing to overlook this or 
remain silent if momentum builds for a Noori candidacy.  It 
is possible that his chairmanship of the Council could 
strengthen FAO and that he would be supportive of many USG 
objectives in the organization. 
 
5.  (C)  We have already been sounded out as to whether the 
US would support a Noori candidacy, to which we have made 
noncommittal responses.  Some OECD permreps (such as the UK 
and the Netherlands) have told us confidentially that they 
would likely support him for the position. 
 
6.  (U)  The next Independent Chair of the FAO Council will 
be elected by secret ballot at the 33rd FAO Conference, 19-26 
November 2005.  The deadline for nominations will be set by 
the Council at its 20-25 June 2005 session.  Under standard 
FAO procedures the closing date would normally fall between 
mid-August and the first week of September 2005.  The newly 
elected Independent Chairman takes up the gavel at the 130th 
Council on 28 November 2005.  Since 1969, the position has 
been held (in reverse chronological order) by nationals of 
Morocco, Indonesia, Mexico, Belgium, Tunisia, India, Nigeria, 
Colombia, and France. 
 
HALL 
 
 
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 2005ROME00857 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL