US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2048

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002048 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO THE SECRETARY'S PARTY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ENRG, MASS, KNNP, KDEM, IN, Indo-US, US-India Strategic Partnership 
SUBJECT: SARAN LAUDS SECRETARY'S "LANDMARK" VISIT 
 
 
1.  (U) In the GOI's first public comments on Secretary 
Rice's just-concluded visit to New Delhi, Foreign Secretary 
Shyam Saran called it "landmark" and evidence of the US-India 
strategic partnership.  Speaking at a small CSIS-sponsored 
gathering of senior foreign policy experts on March 17, Saran 
observed that the term "strategic partnership" has been used 
so often with so many different countries that it has almost 
lost its meaning, but that in the case of US-India relations, 
the description indeed "has such a character," and "very 
substantive implications." 
 
Democracy as "Cement," Bilateral Interests Will Mesh 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2.  (U) Saran's based his assessment on two points: 
 
-- the United States and India are two great, vibrant 
democracies, with diverse, pluralistic populations, which 
serve as "cement" for the relationship.  Ties have become so 
extensive that they touch almost every aspect of life. 
Conceding that there remains considerable cynicism in India 
about democracy as a slogan, the Foreign Secretary argued 
that "when President Bush speaks about his commitment to 
democracy, he means it."  Democracy was a major reason for 
his (the President's) support of the US-India relationship, 
Saran stated. 
 
-- India sees the United States as playing an important role 
in "what India wants to become."  With India looking for 
"larger strategic space for itself," and "greater strategic 
autonomy," Saran said his current assumption was that these 
yearnings would not only "not clash with India's interests," 
but that they would also "mesh well with US objectives," and 
cited US-India cooperation during the Tsunami disaster as an 
example. 
 
Energy, Defense Cooperation 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) The Foreign Secretary went on to highlight the energy 
dialogue and defense cooperation initiative as important 
outcomes from the visit.  The GOI and the United States need 
to work together on energy issues, he stated, because of 
India's "mind-boggling energy needs."  Stressing that India 
cannot rely on fossile fuels, and will have to turn more to 
nuclear energy, he expressed clear satisfaction that greater 
civil nuclear cooperation is "now on the table."  India was 
no longer facing a "theological NO," he said, stressing that 
"we need to talk about all issues" and predicting that energy 
would become a major component of US-India relations in the 
future. 
 
4.  (U) On defense cooperation, Saran spoke positively about 
moving beyond existing mil-mil ties, for example to defense 
research conducted by the two countries' private sectors, and 
to potential major acquisitions.  Citing Secretary Rice's 
comments that the US wishes to be seen as a reliable partner, 
the Foreign Secreary made the obligatory reference to 
"reliability of supply," reiterating that the most important 
concern for India was predictability.  Noting that India is 
one of the few states with the resources for and interest in 
purchasing 125 combat aircraft, he said reliability was 
something that "exercises the Indian mind."  "If we could 
reconcile these differences, the two countries would enter an 
important new era," he stated. 
 
5.  (U) Saran concluded his remarks that he was very 
optimistic about the prospects for US-India relations, and 
that India was looking forward to the President's visit. 
MULFORD