US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI4798

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 004798 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ENRG, IZ, IN, India-Iraq 
SUBJECT: INDIA READY TO COOPERATE WITH IRAQ ON SECURITY AND 
ENERGY 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 4619 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert O. Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) DCM spoke to Iraqi Charge Muayad Hussain on June 23 
to share with him the text of Indian FM Singh's statement at 
the US-EU Conference on Iraq (text below).  Highlighting the 
FM's offer that, "We stand ready to cooperate with Iraq in 
providing assistance in capacity building, for security 
management, as well as for its energy sector," the DCM told 
Hussain that the offers on security management and energy 
clearly reflected suggestions Iraq Coordinator Ambassador 
Jones had made during his June 10 visit to New Delhi 
(Reftel).  DCM further urged the Charge to follow up directly 
with the GOI either in New Delhi or in Baghdad to develop 
concrete plans to make this a reality.  Hussain agreed the 
two countries have an opening and said he would be in touch 
with Baghdad. 
 
2.  (U) Begin GOI text: 
 
External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh,s intervention at the 
International Conference on Iraq in Brussels, 22 June 2005 
 
Mr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative, 
 
Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States 
of America, 
 
Excellencies, 
 
The European Union, its Presidency and the Government of 
United States deserve our appreciation for hosting and 
organizing this International Conference on Iraq and for the 
meticulous arrangements they have made for ensuring the 
success of the Conference. 
 
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Prime Minister of Iraq and his 
colleagues also deserve our congratulations for their 
detailed presentation of the developments that have taken 
place in Iraq. They have analyzed the challenges that their 
government faces and the steps that it is taking for 
political and economic reconstruction of the country. On 
behalf of India, I wish all success for these efforts. 
 
We in India have been closely following recent political 
developments in Iraq. The restoration of sovereignty to the 
Iraqi people is essential for the establishment of peace and 
stability in the country. In this context, the holding of 
elections in Iraq on January 30, 2005, was a noteworthy and 
encouraging development. The United Nations played a useful 
supporting role in that process. India has welcomed the 
formation of the Transitional Government in Iraq headed by 
Prime Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari. Soon after its 
confirmation by the elected Transitional National Assembly, 
the Prime Minister of India sent his Special Envoy, 
Ambassador Chinmaya Gharekhan, to Baghdad, with a message of 
solidarity and support to Prime Minister Jaafari. He also met 
several Ministers and conveyed to them our support to the 
democratic process and to democratic forces in Iraq and our 
commitment in assisting in the reconstruction of Iraq. 
 
India would like to see a stable, peaceful, prosperous, 
united and democratic Iraq. Our Prime Minister has conveyed 
to Prime Minister Jaafari that Iraq could, if it wished, draw 
upon India's experience in drafting a Constitution for its 
multi-cultural society. Our own experience as a 
multi-cultural and multi-religious democracy is that 
Constitution-drafting is a critically important process that 
needs to be inclusive in order to ensure its wide acceptance 
and long-term legitimacy. 
 
India has civilizational relationship with Iraq and 
traditionally strong ties of friendship with Iraq and its 
people. We have been deeply distressed at the sufferings of 
the people of Iraq, especially for the past many years. What 
Iraq most needs today is security and stability. We condemn 
the actions of disruptive forces in Iraq and the activities 
of terrorist elements. Once the security situation improves, 
Iraq will quickly march on the road to its prosperity. 
 
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate India's 
continued commitment to provide assistance to the people of 
Iraq in their humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. India 
has committed a total of USD 30 million in assistance, USD 10 
million through the International Reconstruction Fund 
Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) and USD 20 million bilaterally. We 
are providing assistance for human resource development, 
provision of certain commodities as well as social sector 
projects in keeping with Iraq's requirements. We stand ready 
to cooperate with Iraq in providing assistance in capacity 
building, for security management, as well as for its energy 
sector. 
 
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I hope this Conference 
will pave the way towards rededication of international 
efforts towards assisting Iraq in its political and economic 
reconstruction. I would also like to take this opportunity to 
once again convey the best wishes of the people and 
Government of India to the people and Government of Iraq for 
their success in this endeavour. 
 
Thank You. 
 
End GOI text. 
MULFORD