US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI9139

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 009139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2015 
TAGS: EPET, IN, IZ, PREL, India-Iraq 
SUBJECT: INDIAN GOVERNMENT REQUESTS USG ASSISTANCE TO URGE 
IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO SHARE DOCUMENTS RELATED TO VOLCKER 
REPORT WITH VISITING INDIAN SPECIAL ENVOY DAYAL DECEMBER 
7-8 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 9128 
 
Classified By: DCM Bob Blake 
 
1.  (C)  Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran contacted DCM 
on December 3 to request the USG's help with the mission of 
Indian Special Envoy Virendra Dayal to Iraq in connection 
with the GOI's ongoing investigation into the naming of 
Former Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and the Congress 
Party in the Volcker Report as non-contractual beneficiaries 
of Iraqi oil contracts. 
 
2.  (C) According to Saran, Dayal plans to be in Baghdad 
December 7-8 to meet with relevant Iraqi government officials 
to seek access to any documents that might corroborate or 
refute the information in the Volcker Report.  Saran said 
Dayal is particularly interested in meeting with high-level 
oil Ministry officials who are most likely to have such 
information.  Saran asked that the USG encourage Oil and 
other Iraqi Ministry officials to meet with Dayal.  He 
confirmed that Indian Charge in Baghdad is now in the process 
of setting up appointments.  In response, DCM agreed to pass 
on the request to the Department and Embassy Baghdad.  Saran 
also mentioned that Dayal would also visit Amman to look at 
relevant banking documentation that might also shed light on 
Natwar Singh's alleged involvement.  He said the GOI did not 
need USG assistance on this matter. 
 
3. (C) The Iraqi Charge in Delhi confirmed that he too was 
approached by MEA with a request for help on Dayal's visit. 
On behalf of Ambassador Dayal, the Iraqi Charge asked for 
meetings with Foreign Minister Zebari and the Iraqi Oil 
Minister.  Zebari reportedly will be away during Dayal's 
visit so the Charge is pressing for Dayal to be received by 
someone else in the senior leadership, recognizing that many 
will be preoccupied with the upcoming elections. 
 
4. (C) Comment:  The Dayal investigation has taken on 
national political significance in India following the airing 
of a press interview with India's Ambassador to Croatia Aneil 
Methrani, who was a close aide of Natwar Singh's in 2001 
(septel).  Methrani appeared to corroborate reports that 
Natwar Singh had traveled to Baghdad in 2001 and had included 
in his official delegation both his son Jagat and an Indian 
businessman Andy Sehgal, both of whom are suspected of acting 
as middlemen in the alleged oil deal for Natwar Singh.  The 
opposition BJP has seized on the Methrani interview to demand 
the resignations of Natwar Singh as a Minister without 
Portfolio and Congress President Sonia Gandhi from the 
Congress Party's National Action Council.  Given the enormous 
political stakes of Dayal's investigation, post would 
appreciate any support Embassy Baghdad could provide to the 
Dayal investigation.  Many thanks.  Blake 
MULFORD