US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI5166

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, ENRG, KDEM, IZ, IN, India-Iraq 
SUBJECT: INDIA SEEKING SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS IN IRAQ 
 
REF: A. STATE 124857 
     B. NEW DELHI 4798 
     C. NEW DELHI 4619 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: In the aftermath of the US-EU Conference in 
Brussels, MEA Joint Secretary (Gulf Division) Sanjay Singh 
reiterated GOI willingness to support Iraq's reconstruction 
and sought specific small-scale projects, especially in the 
electricity sector, which the GOI might consider funding and 
executing.  In a conversation with PolCouns and PolMilOff on 
July 6, Singh also said the GOI would be willing to make 
experts available via DVC to assist on any specific 
constitutional issues for which Iraqis would like their 
input.  Mission requests Washington's input on both of these 
Indian requests.  End Summary. 
 
GOI Assessment of Brussels Conference 
------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Describing the Brussels conference as "access 
non-friendly," Singh seemed somewhat disappointed that Indian 
FM Natwar Singh had only a few minutes to interact with PM 
Jaafari and FM Zebari.  Nevertheless, Singh stated that the 
forum clearly demonstrated international support to implement 
UNSCR 1546.  He remarked on some arguments among Arab 
participants about the structure of the future Iraqi state, 
i.e., federal or republic, and debate between the US and 
European representatives about reference to NATO in the joint 
statement.  He noted also that other countries, e.g., Brazil 
and Japan, share some of the same reservations as India 
regarding debt forgiveness, especially regarding 
privately-held debt (Ref C).  He was encouraged by the 
universal recognition of the terrorist threat in Iraq. 
 
Seeking Small-Scale Electricity Projects 
---------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) Recalling that FM Singh mentioned opportunities for 
assisting Iraq in the electricity sector in his statement at 
the Brussels conference (Ref B), PolCouns asked if the GOI 
had developed any ideas for funding such projects.  Singh 
remarked that Ambassador Jones' advocacy for Indian 
assistance in the electricity sector had helped shape New 
Delhi's thinking about how best to engage in Iraq.  The Joint 
Secretary went on to outline what he saw as the process for 
 
SIPDIS 
engaging Iraq on any future projects:  New Delhi was awaiting 
a position paper from Baghdad, which would then be discussed 
at an interministerial meeting, followed by a meeting of the 
reconstituted Indo-Iraq Joint Commission.  Considering the 
push to adopt a new constitution and hold national elections 
according to the established timeline, he did not see this 
coming to fruition before December 15.  He did, however, 
express interest in funding location-specific electricity 
projects for $3-5 million, as recommended by Ambassador 
Jones, and asked if it would be possible to get a list of 
such projects. 
 
Democratization Assistance via DVC 
---------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) PolCouns also delivered the points in Ref A, 
underscoring that India could provide insight on several 
political and administrative questions via 
video-conferencing.  Singh stated that he felt the Iraqis 
already knew what they wanted in their constitution, much of 
which is already included in the Transitional Administrative 
Law (TAL).  The GOI, however, would be willing to make 
experts available via DVC to assist on any specific issues 
for which Iraqis would like their input, e.g., division of 
state expenditures, financial controls, election assistance, 
human rights, etc.  He was confident that qualified Indian 
experts in these areas would be available for a 
video-conference if we or the Iraqis made a specific 
proposal.  The GOI already participates in UN working groups 
on Iraq's constitutional issues, according to Singh.  Despite 
the travel ban on Indian citizens to Iraq, Singh added that 
one Indian Supreme Court lawyer was currently in Baghdad to 
advise on the constitution under the aegis of a foreign, 
possibly American, NGO. 
 
Amman Conference 
---------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) Finally, Singh said the GOI looked forward to more 
direct interaction with the Iraqis on future projects at the 
Amman conference, July 18-19.  He did not yet know the 
composition of the GOI delegation to that conference, but 
thought it likely that he would attend. 
 
6.  (U) Minimize considered. 
BLAKE