US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI2924

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002924 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, KNNP, ENRG, IN, NSSP 
SUBJECT: NSA NARAYANAN URGES "BIG TICKET ITEM" FOR PM VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: Charge Robert O. Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) In an April 18 meeting, SA A/S Rocca, joined by 
Charge, reaffirmed to Indian NSA MK Narayanan USG interest in 
a visit by PM Manmohan Singh to Washington in July, and urged 
the PM to commit to a date as soon as possible.  Evincing 
uncertainty as to the exact dates under consideration, 
Narayanan responded that the PM was seriously considering the 
invitation because it had been extended by both the President 
and Secretary Rice.  He appreciated that the PM "will be 
received in grand and majestic style," but India also wanted 
the trip to yield tangible results, asking bluntly "what will 
you give us?" 
 
2.  (C) Alluding to the inevitable questions from the 
Parliamentary opposition and the government's Communist 
coalition partners as to why the PM wanted to make a special 
trip to the United States in July when he was going to the 
UNGA in September, Narayanan said that New Delhi needed "more 
on the table."  Mentioning civil nuclear cooperation in 
particular, the NSA said major progress in this area "would 
make the visit worthwhile." 
 
3.  (C) After a brief review of US interest in a 
significantly expanded relationship with India, A/S Rocca 
underlined that the Indian Parliament's passage of export 
control legislation required under the NSSP would open many 
doors in the US, mentioning space cooperation as one possible 
area, and stressing that the USG would have greater 
flexibility in other areas as well.  Narayanan responded that 
although the draft law had not yet been tabled, it "would 
come through." 
 
4.  (C) Emphasizing that the PM's visit to Washington is "not 
conditional on anything," the NSA reiterated that the PM 
would like to be able to demonstrate tangible results, and "a 
big ticket item" would be good for both countries.  A/S Rocca 
told Narayanan that it was the US intention for the PM's 
visit to be marked by significant progress in the US-India 
relationship, leading to the President's visit to India later 
in the year or in early 2006, but that the sooner a good 
Indian export control law is passed, the easier it will be 
for the USG to consider options. 
 
5.  (U) A/S Rocca cleared this cable. 
BLAKE