A/S BOUCHER'S MAY 30 MEETING WITH MOFA DG NAKANE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002989

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PARM TSPL KNNP ETTC ENRG TRGY IN JA
SUBJECT: A/S BOUCHER'S MAY 30 MEETING WITH MOFA DG NAKANE
ON THE U.S.-INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for Reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) Summary. SCA A/S Boucher reviewed for MOFA Arms
Control DG Nakane on May 30 the status of the U.S.-India
Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Nakane explained that
Japan had not yet determined its position, but that MOFA must
be sensitive to the public,s nonproliferation concerns. He
also shared Japan,s disappointment that the agreement does
not obligate India to more comprehensive disarmament
requirements. A/S Boucher stated that the agreement would
not encourage India to develop more fissile materials or
nuclear weapons. DG Nakane observed that recent statements
by India,s defense minister regarding PSI raised doubts
about India,s long-term commitment to broader
nonproliferation efforts. A/S Boucher assured that Pakistan
would not be eligible for a similar agreement because it
lacks India,s nonproliferation track record. End summary.


2. (C) On May 30, 2006, Assistant Secretary of State for
South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher discussed the
U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with MOFA
Director General for Arms Control, Non-proliferation and
Science Ambassador Takeshi Nakane. A/S Boucher told Nakane
that the U.S. Congress likely will soon approve the agreement
despite a current disagreement on points of procedure. At
question is Congress' approval authority; the Bush
Administration will likely concede a second approval to
Congress as long as it is a Fast Track approval.


3. (C) The U.S. already has submitted to India a proposed
draft of a formal U.S. ) India bilateral agreement on civil
nuclear cooperation, Boucher explained. India has responded
with some constructive comments, indicating there is ample
room to work out differences about the agreement, A/S Boucher
said. IAEA Director General ElBaradei has told the U.S. that
he supports civil nuclear cooperation with India and does not
expect any major obstacles in reaching a safeguards agreement
with India, according to A/S Boucher. Also, although the
U.S. is not expecting any sort of decisions on the agreement
to come out of this week's Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
meetings in Brasilia, India is in the process of answering
questions posed by various NSG members, particularly
regarding the details of India's negotiations with the IAEA.


4. (C) Japan had not yet determined its position on the
U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, Nakane
stressed, adding that Japan understands India,s growing
strategic importance and appreciates its need for greater
energy resources. However, Japan cannot overlook the
possibility that the agreement may have a negative impact on
the credibility of the Non-proliferation Treaty regime, he
stated. Nakane also pointed out that negative criticism of
the agreement in the Japanese press has required MOFA to
approach the issue with sensitivity to the public's concerns
about nonproliferation. Responding to a comment that
onlookers might perceive differences in approaches with India
and Iran as being discriminatory, A/S Boucher said that India
should be treated differently than Iran ) or North Korea --
because its behavior has been fundamentally different.


5. (C) Nakane noted Japan's disappointment that the
agreement does not obligate India to more comprehensive
disarmament requirements. The NSG is a consensus-based group
and certain members, particularly those of the New Agenda
Coalition, view including disarmament provisions in the civil
nuclear cooperation agreement as vital, according to Nakane.
A/S Boucher responded that the agreement will result neither
in India developing more fissile materials or nuclear weapons
nor a nuclear arms race in South Asia. India has a track
record of comments indicating its preference for eventual
disarmament. Also, the United States has a firm commitment
from India to adhere to a moratorium on nuclear testing; the

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U.S. hopes to include this commitment in its own domestic
legislation, in its proposal to the NSG, and in its bilateral
agreement with India. A/S Boucher noted that the opposition
BJP is opposed to this commitment, arguing it is more binding
than the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and handcuffs India,s
military application interests.


6. (C) During May 1 discussions in New Delhi with Indian
Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary for Disarmament
and International Security Hamid Ali Rao, Japan urged India
to become a formal active participant in the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI),Nakane said. India told Japan
that it supports the PSI in principle and is actively
studying India's participation. However, the Indian Defense
Minister Mukherjee said during a recent visit to Tokyo that
India has no interest in PSI, raising doubts about India's
long-term commitment to broader nonproliferation efforts,
Nakane stated.


7. (C) Responding to Nakane's question about Pakistan's
reported expectation of concluding a similar agreement with
the United States on nuclear cooperation, A/S Boucher argued
that the U.S. has told Pakistan in no uncertain terms that it
is not eligible nor is it likely to become eligible for a
similar agreement. India has a solid track record on
nonproliferation that Pakistan lacks, he said. A/S Boucher
noted that Pakistan has said privately that it has no
interest in an arms race with India.


8. (U) A/S Boucher cleared this message.
SCHIEFFER