US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI8799

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008799 
 
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, KDEM, PHUM, IN, UNSC, GOI 
SUBJECT: INDIA'S NAM BAGGAGE STILL HOLDING IT BACK ON UN 
REFORM 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  At a November 17 meeting with Senior 
Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador Tahir-Kheli, Deputy National 
Security Advisor Nambiar insisted that India's "stereotype as 
a representative of developing countries" at the United 
Nations will hinder its ability to play a leading role with 
the US on UN reform.  Even as India "moves away" from its 
association with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and tries to 
soften the group's statements, they are still "bound by these 
historic compulsions," Nambiar countered, and will have to 
move with the general consensus.  Ambassador Tahir-Kheli 
stressed that India has already made many of the tough 
decisions at the UN to move away from NAM positions, and 
pointed out that several NAM countries are on board with the 
reform movement.  She urged the GOI to speak up on areas of 
UN reform where it does agree, rather than being dragged 
along with a consensus that does not match the interests of 
either India or the US.  End Summary. 
 
SCARED TO JOIN THE BIG BOYS? 
---------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador Vijay 
Nambiar told Senior Advisor on UN reform Ambassador 
Tahir-Kheli at a meeting at New Delhi's United Services 
Institute on November 17 that India may not take the lead on 
advocating for UN reform because it is constrained by its 
traditional role as a representative of developing countries 
in the NAM.  Nambiar, who served as India's Permanent 
Representative to the UN, commented that India "can't be seen 
as part of the big boys club yet."  He observed that it would 
be difficult for the GOI to subscribe to the American 
"segmented" approach to UN reform.  Acknowledging that India 
was "moving in the direction of the US proposals," he 
nevertheless predicted that on specific priorities, such as 
the Human Rights Council, India would "move with the general 
collective rather than staking a leadership position." 
 
COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT 
---------------------- 
 
3.  (C) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli pointed out that it was in our 
joint interest to work together on areas of US-India 
consensus rather than leaving key decision to the NAM.  She 
observed that India's stated case for a UNSC seat is based on 
its leadership role which does not mesh with Nambiar's stated 
inclination to defer to the NAM.  India's role in the UN 
Democracy Fund and its IAEA vote show that the GOI has 
already taken the tough decision to move away from this 
stereotype.  Comparatively, UN reform should not be 
controversial since a strengthened management effort and a 
robust Human Rights Council is in everyone's interest. 
Ambassador Tahir-Kheli urged India to take a visible role in 
advocating for reforms with the US where there was a common 
agenda, rather than being dragged along by the NAM consensus. 
 
4.  (C) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli also pointed out that the USG 
and GOI agree on most aspects of the Human Rights Council. 
She noted that certain NAM countries, including many African 
nations and Singapore, were supporting the Human Rights 
Council.  A difference of opinion on country-specific 
condemnations should not prevent India and the US from 
working together, she added.  Ambassador Tahir-Kheli praised 
India's commitment to the Democracy Fund and emphasized that 
human rights was the other side of the coin and an important 
priority for democratic nations.  She urged support for 
management reform in areas of common consensus. 
 
NAMBY PAMBY 
----------- 
 
5.  (C) Comment: Although PM Singh and other top leaders do 
not necessarily share his thinking on India's need to move 
slowly away from traditional allegiances, the Deputy National 
Security Advisor's opinions provides insight into how some of 
India's bureaucrats, including PermRep Sen, feel about 
working with the US on UN reform.  Nambiar's brother, Lt. 
Gen. (retd.) Satish Nambiar, served on Annan's High Level 
Panel on UN reform and was also present at the meeting.  He 
was less cautious on the US reform effort, saying that he 
agreed with the need for vocal Indian support on management 
and human rights reforms.  However, General Nambiar commented 
that many in India and the UN are deeply suspicious of the 
American commitment to Security Council reform.  As a result, 
without bankable US support for India on the UNSC, some GOI 
leaders, such at the Deputy NSA, may wonder whether UN reform 
is worth the risk of fraying India's NAM coalition and facing 
more domestic political flak.  Nambiar added that Ambassador 
Tahir-Kheli's extensive public discussion of the overall 
reform agenda was very helpful as most Indians believed that 
UNSC expansion was the main reform issue. 
 
6.  (U) Ambassador Tahir-Kheli has cleared this message. 
 
7.  (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: 
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) 
BLAKE