US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI4194

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 004194 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, ETRD, IZ, IN, India-Iraq 
SUBJECT: INDIAN MISSION TO IRAQ OPENS DOORS FOR COOPERATION 
 
REF: A. STATE 99923 
     B. STATE 94861 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Geoffrey Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: On June 1, MEA Joint Secretary (Gulf) Sanjay 
Singh briefed PolCouns and PolMilOff about West Asia Special 
Envoy Ambassador Chinmaya Gharekhan's recent visit to 
Baghdad.  As the first official contact between the GOI and 
the new Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG), Gharekhan's 
visit was intended to express India's "support and 
solidarity" for Iraqi reconstruction and democratization and 
to discuss opportunities for cooperation.  According to 
Singh, the GOI impression of Iraq was one of slow but 
discernible progress, impeded by both targeted and 
generalized violence, which may limit Indian presence in the 
capital.  Gharekhan, however, has also reported back that 
India needs to be more engaged, and Singh (for the first 
time) acknowledged that terrorists operating in Iraq are part 
of a transnational network that also threatens India.  New 
Delhi will engage Baghdad in various upcoming fora, including 
the EU-US international conference, and the Indo-Iraq Joint 
Commission, and may consider replicating successful Afghan 
projects in Iraq.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Sanjay Singh's June 1 readout was notable both for a 
renewed impression of GOI engagement in Iraq and for the 
Joint Secretary's acknowledgment that Iraq is making gradual 
progress.  He acknowledged a level of normalcy in Baghdad, 
despite the considerable problem of insecurity.  As in Punjab 
during the 1990's, Singh said, Iraqi civilians are 
demonstrating a strong will to get on with their lives in the 
face of pervasive and often random violence. 
 
3.  (C) While in Baghdad May 23-26, West Asia Special Envoy 
Gharekhan and MEA J/S Singh met with Prime Minister Jaafari 
and officials from the Ministries of Oil, Industry, Trade, 
Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Education.  Gharekhan's 
mission was meant to express GOI support for reconstruction 
and democratization and to discuss opportunities for 
cooperation.  (Note: In his briefing to PolCouns and 
PolMilOff, J/S Singh pointedly distinguished between the GOI 
offer of cooperation vice assistance; "assistance would 
require more negotiation," he stated.  End Note.) 
 
4.  (C) In his meeting with PM Jaafari, Gharekhan conveyed 
India's "support and solidarity" for Iraqi reconstruction and 
democratization and personally relayed PM Manmohan Singh's 
"keen interest" to "do whatever is necessary to establish a 
close and cooperative relationship" with the new government. 
Gharekhan invited the Iraqi PM and other members of the ITG 
to visit India to consult with relevant ministries.  Jaafari, 
in turn, extended an invitation to PM Manmohan Singh to visit 
Iraq.  Although the GOI understands that the ITG may not ask 
for external assistance with drafting its constitution, 
according to Singh, Gharekhan told Jaafari that members of 
Iraq's Constitutional Committee would be welcome to visit 
India to learn about democratic functions, e.g., election 
infrastructure, civil society, etc.  The J/S remarked that 
Jaafari impressed the Indian delegation with his extensive 
knowledge of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, and noted that 
the PM "seems to be a man of philosophy." 
 
5.  (C) Following up on the Iraqi PM's interest in 
democratization, Gharekhan inquired about Sunni 
representation on the Constitutional Committee.  According to 
Singh, the Minister of Interior stated that the number of 
Sunnis on the committee will be increased from three to 18. 
PolCouns noted that Secretary Rice has also advocated for 
broad Sunni representation in the ITG.  Although Sunni 
representation is important, "we look at Iraq as a secular 
country," Singh stated.  He added that India was most 
interested in helping with the building blocs of Iraqi 
democracy -- human rights commissions, election commissions, 
and other institutions where India enjoys expertise. 
Reconvening the Indo-Iraq Joint Commission 
------------------------------------------ 
 
6.  (SBU) In meetings with the Ministries of Oil, Trade, and 
Industry, Gharekhan raised the issue of reconvening the 
Indo-Iraq Joint Commission (JC), previously chaired by the 
oil ministers.  Officials from the Ministry of Trade 
suggested that in preparation for the JC, a joint working 
group first meet to forge an agenda and outline pending 
issues from the last meeting of the body in Baghdad in 
September 2002.  Gharekhan also extended an invitation to a 
delegation from the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce to visit India 
to discuss ways to increase trade between the two countries. 
 
Model Projects from Afghanistan 
------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C) While large-scale Indian projects in Iraq will have 
to await improvement in the security climate, PolCouns 
suggested the GOI consider engagement on smaller, more 
immediate projects.  Using successful Indian projects in 
Afghanistan as a model, PolCouns asked, for instance, whether 
the GOI had considered replicating its Afghan telemedicine 
project in Iraqi hospitals, possibly starting someplace like 
Basra or Najaf.  Such a high-profile project would highlight 
Indian expertise in medicine and satellite technology, while 
responding to a critical need in Iraq.  Singh, familiar with 
the GOI project in Afghanistan, said this was "totally 
possible," adding that "we're looking for partners" to 
facilitate Indian involvement. 
 
Educational Exchange 
-------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) Educational exchange is currently the most active 
area of engagement between the two countries, and officials 
in the Ministry of Education expressed gratitude for 
opportunities Iraqis have to study and train in India, 
according to Singh.  The J/S admitted, however, that slots 
allotted for Iraqis in higher education and vocational 
training programs in India are underutilized this year 
compared to last.  Singh attributed this to lack of 
acceptance of Iraqi educational certificates in Indian 
institutions, a problem that could be resolved by regularized 
university-to-university exchanges.  Singh suggested that the 
Iraqi mission in New Delhi have an education attache to 
facilitate these linkages. 
 
Uncertain about Security 
------------------------ 
 
9.  (C) Underscoring GOI concern about stability and safety, 
Gharekhan met with the Iraqi National Security Advisor for a 
briefing about the security situation throughout the country. 
 Observing that Iraqis seem undeterred by the heavy military 
presence in Baghdad, Singh nevertheless expressed strong 
personal hesitation about the security situation in the 
capital which may limit the GOI presence there.  He commented 
that the Iraqi security services "seem to have their hands 
full" coping with Shia-Sunni tension, the transnational flow 
of insurgents, as well as generalized crime.  Singh stated 
that "Criminals who got their freedom as (a result of 
Saddam's fall and the US intervention)  are a bigger danger 
than the terrorists."  He added that kidnapping has become an 
industry and is even being "out-sourced" to "criminal 
contractors" who kidnap internationals and Iraqis for profit. 
 PolCouns encouraged the GOI to consider assisting Iraq with 
security training that builds on India's own experience in 
successfully controlling similar situations while still 
maintaining respect for democracy and human rights.  Singh 
indicated that Gharekhan had told the Iraqi NSA that India 
was prepared to "cooperate" in this area. 
Opportunities for Engagement 
---------------------------- 
 
10.  (SBU) Taking advantage of increasing Indian interest in 
Iraq, PolCouns urged the GOI to send a high-level 
representative to the upcoming US-EU conference (Ref B). 
Singh indicated that Gharekhan would likely represent the GOI 
but noted that the final level of GOI presence would be 
decided by the Foreign Minister. 
 
11.  (U) Singh welcomed the visit of Iraq Coordinator 
Ambassador Richard Jones, June 9-10 (Ref A).  Although 
Ambassador Gharekhan will be in the US on a personal visit at 
that time, the J/S was hopeful that the two Ambassadors would 
be able to meet when Jones returns to the US.  Singh 
suggested that Jones meet with technical ministries in New 
Delhi to discuss useful areas of engagement in Iraq. 
 
12.  (C) PolCouns described the Iraqi Embassy's initiative to 
convene a seminar for GOI and industry representative in New 
Delhi to discuss opportunities for India in Iraq and inquired 
about MEA involvement in that effort.  Singh admitted that 
some GOI officials had sought permission from MEA to 
participate in the event, which they need not do, he 
stressed, but did because of "well-known sensitivities" about 
Iraq. 
 
13.  (C) Finally, PolCouns asked about the status of the 
exchange of Ambassadors.  Singh intimated that the decision 
was delayed due to ITG hesitation about the previous 
candidate whose Agrement has been pending since September. 
(Note:  In a June 2 conversation with PolMilOff, the Iraqi 
Charge confirmed that Baghdad had withdrawn the previous 
candidate from consideration.  End Note.)  In the meantime, 
PolCouns encouraged MEA to maintain closer contact with the 
Iraqi mission in New Delhi to facilitate exploring these 
emerging opportunities.  Singh indicated that an Indian 
Ambassador would be posted to Baghdad soon. 
BLAKE