US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI282

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, ETTC, EAID, KDEM, IN, PK, IZ, BM, CE, Indo-US, Export Control Initiatives 
SUBJECT: PM UPBEAT ON US-INDIA RELATIONS REAFFIRMS EXPORT 
CONTROL COMMITMENT WITH CODEL FRIST 
 
Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford, Reason 1.5 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Senators Frist, McConnell, DeWine and 
Coleman discussed a broad range of issues with PM Manmohan 
Singh during their January 10 meeting, including US-India 
ties, Tsunami disaster relief, democratization in Burma, 
HIV/AIDS, trade and the WTO, Iraq, NSSP, Indo-Pak relations, 
and UNSC reform.  The PM remained non-committal regarding 
expanding Indian involvement in Iraq beyond providing 
election assistance.  End Summary. 
 
Close Bilateral Ties 
-------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Emphasizing the importance India places on the 
US/India relationship, the PM referred to the NSSP, 
investment, growing trade, and India's desire for FDI from 
the US, emphasizing specifically bilateral cooperation in 
counterterrorism, halting WMD proliferation, and working with 
the US within the WTO to establish a non-discriminatory 
trading system.  Noting that India's relations with the US 
were "of the highest priority," he expressed his desire to 
"deepen and broaden" ties, especially in the high-tech and 
defense areas.  The PM pointed out that he had met with 
President Bush in New York on the margins of the UNGA last 
fall, and was looking forward to seeing him again this year. 
Stating that there was a growing convergence between Indian 
and US interests, based in part on our strong democratic 
traditions, PM Singh called the US and India "partners."  He 
hoped that Indian expertise in IT and biotech would further 
bilateral cooperation, and explained that the GOI wants to 
create an "environment for entrepreneurship in India," so 
that its citizens would no longer have to emigrate.  Senator 
Frist responded by underlining his wish to build on growing 
US-India ties, which now include a strong Indian-American 
dimension. 
Disaster Relief 
--------------- 
 
3.  (C) After extending condolences regarding the Tsunami 
disaster, Senator Frist referred to his previous stop in Sri 
Lanka, where the Sri Lankan President had expressed gratitude 
to India for its support, noting that New Delhi had gained in 
respect internationally both as a victim and a donor.  The PM 
thanked the US for its support and assistance to the GOI 
Tsunami relief effort, adding that he deeply appreciated the 
 
SIPDIS 
Secretary's visit to the Indian Embassy in Washington.  The 
 
SIPDIS 
PM characterized the establishment of the "core group" as a 
"good and timely" step.  Noting that for India the suffering 
was restricted to its South and Eastern islands, the PM hoped 
that future Indian economic development would take such 
potential disasters into account. 
 
Democratization in Burma 
------------------------ 
 
4.  (C) Senator McConnell asked the PM whether he was 
troubled by India's ties with the Burmese junta, and how he 
felt about hosting General Than Shwe last October.  PM Singh 
replied that he holds ASSK in very high regard for the values 
she promotes, but pointed out that India has a 1400 kilometer 
land border with Burma, as well as 850 kilometers of shared 
coastline along the Bay of Bengal, and that the insurgents in 
some of India's northeastern states take shelter in Burma. 
These factors compel India and Burma to talk, he said, and 
recalled that he had told both General Than Shwe and the 
Indian Parliament that Burma must do everything possible to 
honor its own previously stated commitment to restore 
democracy. 
 
HIV/AIDS 
-------- 
 
5.  (C) In response to Senator DeWine's question about how 
India was dealing with HIV/AIDS and the role the 
international community could play in these efforts, the PM 
pointed out that there were now five million AIDS sufferers 
in India.  Characterizing AIDS as a "major national problem," 
he said that it could affect India's economic development, 
especially because of its impact on the young.  Stressing 
that the GOI takes the problem "very seriously," he noted his 
engagement with youth in his fight against AIDS.  While 
culture often prevents open discussion of this issue, he had 
met with the media to enlist their support.  The PM expressed 
appreciation for the support of American and international 
donor organizations in this battle, and noted that the GOI 
would commit more resources. 
Trade and the WTO 
----------------- 
 
6.  (C) Senator Coleman then asked how the US and India could 
work better together on trade/WTO issues, and Senator Frist 
pointed out that the USG would like to see more GOI action on 
economic reform, including lower tariffs and improved IPR 
protection.  In response, the PM said that both countries 
want to improve the WTO, and he wants to ensure that it will 
provide a rule-based, non-discriminatory framework for 
international trade.  He was pleased with the last round of 
WTO talks, in which he said the US and India had worked 
closely together.  The PM reiterated that the GOI is 
committed to moving forward together with the US, has already 
introduced an ordinance to prevent copyright infringement, 
and expects to introduce legislation to enshrine these 
measures into law. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
7.  (C) Senator Frist noted that it is clear there will be an 
election in Iraq on January 30, and bringing democracy and 
stability to Iraq must be a real international effort, given 
that the outcome there effects everyone, including India. 
Responding, PM Singh expressed his support for US efforts in 
Iraq and agreed that it was crucial that the election be held 
as scheduled.  It was vital, the PM said, that the US succeed 
in Iraq as it has in Afghanistan, although Iraq is a more 
complex and dangerous situation.  He reiterated India's offer 
to train election officials for Iraq in India.  Senator 
McConnell pointed out that there are two more elections 
scheduled in Iraq for 2005, one to ratify the new 
constitution, and one to elect a new government at the end of 
the year, and encouraged the PM to help with Iraqi elections 
running into the future. 
 
NSSP 
---- 
 
8.  (C) Emphasizing that the USG would like to reinforce and 
support the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) and 
expand talks on Missile Defense, Senator Frist commented that 
the US and India need to improve export control 
implementation and enforcement to achieve their joint NSSP 
goals.  The PM replied that India takes its nonproliferation 
obligations seriously, has strong export controls, and wants 
to halt the spread of WMD. 
 
India/Pakistan Relations 
------------------------ 
 
9.  (C) Commenting that US relations with India and Pakistan 
were not a "zero-sum" game and that they should develop 
independently, Senator Frist noted that the US fully supports 
a bilateral Indo-Pak approach to Kashmir.  PM Singh responded 
that India is committed to solving all outstanding issues 
with Islamabad, although any settlement must be based on 
ground realities, as India cannot support changes of 
boundaries, especially when based on religion, as this would 
undermine India's secular character, and be unacceptable to 
the public at large.  Instead, he noted, people on both sides 
of the LOC should have greater opportunities to travel and 
trade.  Since India is a "status quo power," it wishes 
Pakistan well and hopes it can bring its problems with 
terrorism and extremism under control. 
 
United Nations Reform 
--------------------- 
 
10.  (C) Senator Coleman ended the meeting by pointing out 
that both India and the US want a "credible, effective, 
transparent UN," and hoped that both countries could work 
together on UN reform.  The PM replied that India agrees that 
the UN is in need of reform and seeks a permanent seat on the 
UNSC. 
 
11.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
MULFORD