{"id":39599,"date":"2012-04-24T09:01:32","date_gmt":"2012-04-24T09:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=39599"},"modified":"2012-04-26T16:20:17","modified_gmt":"2012-04-26T16:20:17","slug":"learning-from-convergences-and-divergences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/learning-from-convergences-and-divergences\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning From Convergences And Divergences"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Austin Fernando <\/a>–<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Austin Fernando<\/p><\/div>\n

There had been large scale local criticism ofIndiaand theUSA, after the adoption of the UNHRC resolution inGeneva. It was not surprising due to the international, regional and domestic embarrassment caused to us. Many tried to direct attention on the influence of the \u201cLTTE rump in the Diaspora\u201d for the US Ainitiative. It could have fitted better with the British electorates, but not theUSA\u2019s, because the election processes differ.<\/p>\n

After reading a very recent article (in which the Sri Lankan episode is also minutely stated) by two formerUSdiplomats, discussing the divergence and convergence experienced by the USA and India regarding UN involvements, I thought sharing some ideas in it could initiate revisiting our issues, created in the UN by the USA and India. To what extent my interpretations, as emanating from a \u201cZero-Diplomat\u201d would be tolerated is an issue!<\/p>\n

Perhaps, our External Affairs Ministry and the Ambassador in Washington who are much knowledgeable and seasoned may have already seen it and shared with the Presidential Secretariat. Therefore, this short essay will minimize duplication and extract only relevant considerations. It is to learn from these \u201cthink tanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Positives and Negatives in UN voting<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>There are positive and negative relationships between theUSAandIndia, evolved during the last decade or so. Sometimes the deterioration of political relationships between the USA and Pakistan could be suspected, among other reasons, to be even minutely consequential to these developments. The convergences and divergences have to be considered in that light to understand their diplomatic and political behavioral importance, which have affected us at present.<\/p>\n

Let me quote a few of them to understand these intricacies, which may help to approach the thorny terrain under grass we trudge.<\/p>\n

The whole world <\/em>is aware of India\u2019s keen interest to be in the Security Council, especially heightened afterChina\u2019s entry to it. In this regard President Barack Obama announced inNew Delhi (November 2010) that \u201ctheUS supportedIndia as an eventual permanent member of the Security Council,\u201d though much has not happened since then. Such promise would invariably attract India to sustain closer ties with the USA, in anticipation of active operationalizing of such promise. Hence, the recently observed positive dialogue and enhanced ties in trade, economics, investments etc could be steps to deep root future relationships.<\/p>\n

It is revealed that the voting patterns of the two countries in the UN is: \u201cIn 2010 and 2011, India voted similarly to the US on about 25 and 33 percent of all recorded votes in the General Assembly, respectively.\u201d If \u201ccommon consensus votes\u201d are included, the US and India are together 85% of the time.\u201d I wonder the local critics know this trend. No wonder there is increasing level of convergence of thinking.<\/p>\n

Referring to voting specifics the article says that the Indian vote against Sri Lankaat the UNHCR \u201calso demonstrated thatIndiais willing to take the heat of voting independently from its G-77 partners.\u201d \u00a0Further, it said similarly in crucial Iran votes in the International Atomic Energy Agency, India has voted against Iran(India\u2019s oil supplier and neighbor) to demonstrate its commitment to keeping Iran off from a nuclear weapons program. But, argued thatIndiawill honor Security Council sanctions, but not necessarily those imposed by the US and Europe. This was again proved during the last UNHCR session whenIndiadid not vote with theUSAon the Israel issue.<\/p>\n

Hence, unlike what some scream here, India does not behave like a puppet of the USA at the UN, but guided by what Sri Jawaharlal Nehru has said: \u201cOur instructions to our delegates have always been to consider each question first in terms of India\u2019s interest, and secondly on its merits.\u201d Even Chief Minister Jeyalalitha\u2019s intervention would have been considered by PM Manmohan Singh as a matter of national interest of India, while political survival also would have been in his mind.<\/p>\n

Differing perspectives<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>The authors point out that duringIndia\u2019s current tenure as a rotating, nonpermanent member of the Security Council (since January 2011), the two countries\u2019 differing perspectives have sometimes been in sharp focus. They said \u201cFrom a U.S. perspective, India identified itself more with two other contenders for permanent membership\u2014Brazil and South Africa\u2014and, even more troublesome for the United States, seemed to vote with Russia and China over the U.S.\/Britain\/France bloc on contentious issues\u201d and quoted India, like Russia and China, agreeing to abstain, rather than oppose the March 2010 resolution authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya, and, like them, believed that NATO exceeded the\u00a0 council\u2019s mandate in the following months. This is bold strategic thinking.<\/p>\n

The article quoted that on Syria the record has been mixed. When the Council in January 2012 sought to condemn the Syrian regime\u2019s attack on its domestic opposition,India pursued the middle ground of abstention and watchedRussiaandChinaveto the effort.Indiathen worked to find a compromise, supporting a resolution in early February that, while ruling out foreign military intervention, aligned itself with the West and the Arab League. Even that fell to Chinese and Russian vetoes. Balancing tricks?<\/p>\n

Indiahas thus maintained its independent stance on these issues and it has not been a free ride even for theUS. In summary, the authors explain why this differing is from the Indian point of view, knowing the US stances are sometimes different. They are basically structural inadequacies in the UN; India\u2019s consistent opposition to interfere in other country\u2019s domestic affairs (though violated in our vote in Geneva); and, the belief that the Council has exceeded its mandate and intruded on the turf of the General Assembly in recent years, irrespective of India\u2019s desire for a permanent seat on the same Council.<\/p>\n

Can Sri Lanka learn from the prescriptions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The authors suggest that the US and India need to find a way to work together at the UN, befitting the \u201cstrategic partnership\u201d the two countries are forging. They said \u201cThis should be achievable, but it will require some creative thinking by both sides and an increased willingness to take each other\u2019s views into account. The United States needs to acknowledge the importance to Indiaof its \u201cstrategic autonomy.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They further recommended \u201cThe United States and India need to communicate early and often in New York. \u201cNo surprises\u201d should be the rule.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

While recommending dialogue on multilateral topics when their leaders meet in New Delhi and Washington\u00a0 the authors recommended the continuance of bilateral dialogue on UN\u00a0 matters. The authors predicted this June\u2019s third meeting of the U.S.-India \u201cStrategic Dialogue,\u201d led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna would offer an early opportunity to take this one big step further.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>Learning from US- India relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under these circumstances it is important that Sri Lankashould understand these positive and negative relationships between the USA and India to act profitably. \u00a0The positive suggestion is that \u201csome creative thinking by both sides and an increased willingness to take each other\u2019s views into account\u201d are important. Are we ready or are we grumbling?<\/p>\n

The Indians have proved that while being supportive of common consensus votes it succeeded in countering the USA on its own principles. For them convergence was not subordination to the USA. By voting with theUSAon the Sri Lankan issueIndiaproved that G-77 partnership was not its priority.Indiablew hot and cold onIranand even joined withChinaat BRICS (late March) to safeguardIranon restraints made by the USA and EU, while concurrently opposing theIran\u2019s nuclear program. This proved that we are in a world which has no permanent friends or foes in international politics. Can we learn to adjust according to the emerging situations?<\/p>\n

Of course, we should be mindful of the offers that are on the table for Indiain comparison to ours. The two countries vastly differ and India can dictate much more than us. The large Indian market and specialties it possesses for instance make political issues welcoming economic realities. These ease the Indians to behave more independently. This is the negative field in which we have to trudge (e.g. conflicting alliance political attitudes). Nevertheless, the lesson from Indians is that diplomatic balancing is possible, even on such terrain.<\/p>\n

Another lesson is that harping on existing principles need not be continued if the benefits weigh more. \u00a0It is a matter of checking the assets and liabilities as in a Balance Sheet! How India has in our case overlooked the non- interference in other country\u2019s domestic affairs principle is an example on how it works. However, to what extent we could dictate must be cautiously reviewed.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s desire to sit on the Security Council will not change and could be an issue on which India will have to expect international support and this could be one issue in which Sri Lankacould genuinely be withIndiaand theUSA. We should be also mindful of the economic imperatives of this decision. Contradictorily,Chinamay have different stances on this. This fits in to what the authors suggest as working together \u201cbefitting the \u201cstrategic partnership.\u201d Can we incorporate our strategizing with creative thinking by an \u201cincreased willingness to take each other\u2019s views into account\u201d keeping international partners intact?\u00a0 We may learn from India on how she dealt with Iran or Libya or Syria, opposing the USA.<\/p>\n

The article recommended the need to communicate often in New Yorkand suggested the rule to be \u201cNo surprises.\u201d For us the venues will be different. The relationships between us and these two countries had been full of surprises and the communications had sometimes bordered on abrasiveness, which should be avoided. From the way Indians reacted to us in Geneva, it seems that pre- May 2009 approaches, where Minister Basil Rajapaksa, President\u2019s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa successfully coordinated with the Indians, are totally lost.<\/p>\n

In fact, the proposition of the forthcoming meeting (in June) of the U.S.-India \u201cStrategic Dialogue\u201d could be another opportunity on our tables because Minister GL Peiris meets with Secretary Clinton (in May) in theUSA, before Minster Krishna. Will Minister Peiris make Minister Krishna a Lilliputian by his presentations to Secretary Clinton?<\/p>\n

There will be some commentators who may complain that these lessons as \u201clessons for stooging\u201d and subjugateSri Lanka. Let the comments be. As time is running out let us live in international political realities rather than being so rhetoric.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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