SARAN LAUDS SECRETARY'S "LANDMARK" VISIT

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002048

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TAGS: PREL ENRG MASS KNNP KDEM IN US US
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
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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
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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