US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2719

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002719 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ENERGY SECRETARY BODMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2014 
TAGS: PREL, EPET, IN, Energy 
SUBJECT: ENERGY MINISTER CANCELS TRIP TO U.S. 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Robert O. Blake for Reasons 1.5 
(B,D) 
 
1.(C) Energy Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar contacted the 
Embassy on April 11 to convey his regret that he will not be 
able to travel to the United States to meet with Energy 
Secretary Bodman and address an energy symposium at Harvard. 
 
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The Minister explained that the Emir of Qatar had scheduled a 
short notice visit to India, for which he must be present 
given India's important energy interests with Qatar.  The 
Minister asked that the Embassy convey his best wishes to 
Secretary Bodman and his invitation for the Secretary to 
 
SIPDIS 
visit India at his earliest convenience. Qatar is presently 
one of India's major suppliers of imported gas, with plans 
for significant further expansion of capacity in the next few 
years.  This Qatar option is particularly important as a 
potential alternative if a gas pipeline from Iran proves not 
to be feasible. 
 
2.  (C) COMMENT:  Despite talk of the Qatari visit, we 
suspect that a major factor in the Minister's cancellation 
was MEA's concern about protecting the Foreign Minister's 
agenda in Washington this week and ensuring that Mani Shankar 
Aiyar does not muddle the GOI's message to DOE.  Aiyer is 
widely rumored to be a contender for Congress Foreign 
Minister if Natwar Singh ever moves on.  When the Ambassador 
spoke with Natwar on April 8, the Foreign Minister intimated 
that he would make sure that Mani's agenda with Secretary 
Bodman did not conflict with Montek Singh Ahluwalia's, who is 
part of the MEA delegation. 
MULFORD