CABINET PASSES LANDMARK EXPORT CONTROL LAW --

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003392

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015
TAGS: PREL ETTC KNNP TBIO TSPA IN GOI
SUBJECT: CABINET PASSES LANDMARK EXPORT CONTROL LAW --
ACTION MOVES TO PARLIAMENT

REF: NEW DELHI 3270

Classified By: Charge Robert O. Blake, Jr., for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Speaking with PolCouns on April 5, PMO Director
Venkatash Verma confirmed reports from that morning's papers
that the Cabinet had approved the Weapons of Mass Destruction
and their Delivery Systems (Prevention of Unlawful
Activities) Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament in a
matter of days. Verma, whose involvement with the NSSP goes
back to September 2003, indicated that the content of the law
was to some degree dictated by US-India benchmarks, adding
that the text "contains all the elements spelled out in NSSP
Phase II," and goes significantly beyond. He noted that the
bill had been moved through the Indian government in record
time -- about 3-4 months -- in response to a strong Prime
Ministerial directive. Without this "commitment and pressure
from the PMO," Verma added, pulling together the various
concerned ministries would have taken much longer.


2. (C) The bill will become a public document upon its
introduction to the legislature, at which point it becomes
"Parliamentary property." Although not in a position to
share a text, Verma (who was clearly proud of his handiwork)
characterized the bill as "very solid legislation that covers
UNSCR 1540, strengthens existing provisions of law by making
it sharper, deeper and more focused and covers what we needed
to do under the NSSP." Continuing in this vein, Verma
explained that the bill dovetails with existing Indian
legislation across the spectrum of WMD threats, and "for
those of us who have followed the issue will meet the highest
standards."


3. (C) Verma highlighted the GOI's long-standing political
commitment to preventing the onward proliferation if India's
WMD and delivery system technologies, and explained that the
bill had been drafted with a view to addressing "not just
concerns we are familiar with, but also threats that could
emerge over time." Verma expressed the hope that this action
will be seen in the spirit in which it is intended, and noted
that the PMO's commitment to moving on this key bilateral
benchmark had helped to change attitudes in the concerned
ministries, so that it is no longer just the Ministry of
External Affairs that supports the government's
counter-proliferaton agenda.


4. (C) The PMO Director was reluctant to make any predictions
about passage of the legislation, citing the unpredictable
dynamic of Indian democracy. However, he emphasized the
strong national consensus in favor of preserving India's
export control reputation, and expressed the hope that the
bill would be passed into law quickly. He also drew a
connection to the Prime Minister's July visit to Washington,
implying that the PMO would remain engaged with a view to
achieving passage, completing this NSSP Phase III benchmark,
and opening the door for a more ambitious US-India agenda on
strategic issues.
BLAKE