NSA NARAYANAN URGES "BIG TICKET ITEM" FOR PM VISIT

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