US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI8795

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 008795 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR THE SECRETARY; U/S BURNS 
USUN FOR JOHN BOLTON 
IO FOR A/S KRISTEN SILVERBURG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KUNR, IN, UNSC, UNGA, GOI 
SUBJECT: GOI COMMENTS REGARDING PERM REP SEN'S REMARKS ON 
UNSC REFORM 
 
REF: A. USUN NEW YORK 2635 
     B. NEW DELHI 8682 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Visiting Senior Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador 
Shirin Tahir-Kheli raised Reftel A points in separate 
meetings with MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar and 
Media Advisor to the Prime Ministers Office Sanjay Baru on 
November 17.  In both meetings, our interlocutors underlined 
that PermRep Nirupam Sen's remarks are in conflict with the 
GOI's expressed position on UNSC reform (Reftel B). 
Ambassador Tahir-Kheli noted that even if aimed at a 
"non-aligned" audience, such comments ripple more widely and 
raise concerns about the fruits of the "transformed" US-India 
relationship. 
 
2.  (C)  Both Jaishankar and Baru took the point on board and 
promised to raise it with senior level officials.  Baru 
specifically said he would brief the Prime Minister and was 
"not surprised" at Sen's comments, stating he is a "creature 
of the 1970s."  While some might make such comments for 
tactical reasons, Sen comments reflect his personal opinion. 
 
3.  (U) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli has cleared this message. 
BLAKE