ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER AND GAITRI KUMAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 001723 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ETRD MOPS KPAO ENRG PARM PTER IN SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER AND GAITRI KUMAR REVIEW BILATERAL STATE-OF-PLAY Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 ( b, d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: South and Central Asian Affairs Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher met Ministry of External Affairs SIPDIS Joint Secretary Gaitri Kumar April 5 to review progress and obstacles on key U.S.- India bilateral issues, including defense, military relations, education, the Agriculture Knowledge Initiative, commercial space launch agreement, and the recent FBI arrests. Boucher presented ideas for an education initiative. The interaction was friendly and cordial, but several issues of importance - specifically reaction to the recent FBI arrests - did not elicit the desired Indian reaction. END SUMMARY. -------------- A Full Agenda -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Boucher opened by complimenting Kumar and the Indian government on the successful South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit. Kumar responded that "it felt like a big family wedding; we were constantly worrying about all of the guests." Boucher noted that New Delhi also warmly welcomed several high-level U.S. visitors that had passed through in recent weeks, including Energy Secretary Bodman in mid-March, who reported that he had very positive discussions. U.S. Trade Representative Schwab and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative to the World Trade Organization Allgeier will visit India April 12-14 for U.S. Trade Policy Forum and Doha talks. Kumar responded that their Washington-based Minister for Commerce at the Indian Embassy would also be visiting Delhi next week to participate in the trade talks so that she could be best equipped to follow the issues in Washington. -------------- Proliferation Security Initiative -------------- ¶3. (C) Boucher urged Kumar to support the Proliferation Security Initiative by endorsing the Statement of Principles, which has been under discussion since early 2004. (Note: Then - Foreign Secretary Saran told Under Secretary Burns in September 2006 that the Indians would not be able to endorse the Proliferation Security Initiative until the civil nuclear deal was completely implemented.) Boucher noted that the information passed to the Indian government last year should satisfy their concerns. Kumar responded that she needed more clarity. "This has been on our checklist for a long time. We have gone through the conventions. If we can offer a way forward, I'll revert back to you." -------------- Container Security Initiative -------------- ¶4. (C) Boucher inquired about the status of the Container Security Initiative. Kumar noted that it is still with the Cabinet, but it has been approved by the bureaucracy and will move out of the Cabinet "as soon as it makes it onto the agenda." (Background: The US is waiting for India to sign the Declaration of Principles, which the Prime Minister endorsed over a year ago in the March 2 Joint Statement.) NEW DELHI 00001723 002 OF 005 -------------- Commercial Space Launch Agreement -------------- ¶5. (C) Boucher asked if the Indian government had given further consideration to next steps for a Commercial Space Launch Agreement, especially since Menon's February 23 conversation with Deputy United States Trade Representative Bhatia, in which Menon said that his government did not see a need for such an Agreement, but offered to review the situation with the Indian Space Research Organization and get back to the US. Kumar noted that they provided a non-paper to relevant parties, but stressed that "we do not want this to be a USTR issue. We want this to be a Department of State/Ministry of External Affairs issue." ¶6. (C) Boucher acknowledged that developments have moved half a notch, but Karan Bhatia would be an excellent interlocutor on this issue. Kumar noted that they sent in a list of questions and are waiting for USTR's response, but again, stressed that she wants to receive the response through the Department of State. -------------- Bilateral Initiative on Science -------------- ¶7. (C) Boucher told Kumar that the U.S. is diligently working on terms of reference for the joint endowment mechanism and said, "We hope to have a draft to pass along to you very soon." Kumar noted that "this is important for us and we need to move. Our Minister of Science and Technology has money available." -------------- Communications Interoperability -------------- ¶8. (C) The Indians provided non-substantive edits to the CISMOA draft agreement on March 21, which Pacific Command has already accepted, affirmed Boucher. Kumar was pleasantly surprised, speculating that Pacific Command's acceptance had "probably not been sent yet through formal channels." Kumar than said that they will soon give it to their Cabinet and be done with it. Boucher noted we are ready to sign the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA). -------------- Education Initiatives, Hughes Visit -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Boucher said that Under Secretary for Public Affairs Karen Hughes was pleased with her week-long trip to India with a delegation of six U.S. university leaders. During their trip, they discussed the best way to develop peer-to-peer dialogue in the government and higher education sectors. The interest from Indian academic, business, student and government leaders was great -- and she returned encouraged that our countries must strengthen our partnership in education. Boucher passed Kumar a non-paper that outlined ideas for possible U.S. India collaboration on education. ¶10. (SBU) Boucher expressed his gratitude to the Kumar and the Indian government for its completion of clearances for American Fulbright researchers coming to India for this NEW DELHI 00001723 003 OF 005 academic year. In particular, he thanked Kumar for the personal commitment she made to address this matter. Regrettably, the Government of India did not issue clearances to seven scholars this year, based on concerns about the "suitability" or "appropriateness" of their research topics. Boucher said, "I hope we can get away from that and I hope we do not have problems with governments deciding what is and is not acceptable." Kumar noted that they were continuing to "work on it." ¶11. (SBU) Boucher also said that he was interested in establishing an informal Educational Center to include both government and private-sector participants. The Knowledge Commission had specific ideas, but the new initiative could be launched by announcing several specific projects we agree to accomplish over the next twelve months. Kumar promised to consider the idea carefully and respond through the Embassy's Public Affairs Officer. ¶12. (SBU) Regarding Fulbright, Kumar had ideas on how to implement a new bilateral Fulbright agreement, but would have to loop in the Finance Minister whenever foreign funds are involved. She warned that this may be a protracted procedure and a new bilateral Fulbright agreement in June 2007 may not be feasible, but not because the government is delaying or uninterested. "The Ministers of Human Resource Development, Education and the Prime Minister all want to encourage Indian Studies for foreign students, and the PM has told MHRD that India should help fund Fulbright." Procedurally, Kumar suggested that the U.S. Public Affairs Officer Larry Schwartz and Americas Desk Officer Namgya coordinate with the Joint Secretary for Education. SIPDIS -------------- Defense Cooperation -------------- ¶13. (C) Boucher said that U.S. technology can help lay the foundation for interoperability and future regional military cooperation. Ongoing and upcoming competitions include the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, maritime helicopters, anti-tank guided missiles, and Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft. The presence of several U.S. defense firms in India is evidence of our companies, willingness to invest in long-term relationships with Indian counterparts. However, Boucher cautioned, American companies have concerns about transparency and fairness in India,s procurement of military equipment. Furthermore, the recent FBI arrests cast a shadow over the entire topic. He went on to emphasize the seriousness of the charges, which are inconsistent with the Next Steps in Strategic Partnerships assurances India provided in 2004. "This is foremost an issue of trust. It is important from the outset to address this issue quickly and in a serious and forthcoming manner." ¶14. (C) Boucher also urged the Government of India to demonstrate greater flexibility in implementing its offsets policy. Offsets should allow U.S. investments in various sectors, and not be linked rigidly to defense. Use the extensive American company experience in offset investments not only to develop your defense industries but to encourage economic growth beyond the defense sector, he counseled. ¶15. (C) Boucher emphasized to Kumar that the U.S. and India will have to work together to find a solution to end-use NEW DELHI 00001723 004 OF 005 assurances and control, which will be difficult given the different ways our two governments operate. (Background: During the Defense Procurement and Production talks prior to the Defense Policy Group meeting, the Indians stated their firm opposition to Department of Defense &enhanced8 end-use checks at defense installations as a condition of transfer of sensitive defense items. Although Defense explained that in-person inspections of such equipment are required of all allies -- even the United Kingdom and Australia -- the Indians were unmoved, asserting they would never allow such visits to their bases. They separately proposed &virtual8 inspection using video cameras under their control. Defense and State officials are working to develop End Use Monitoring language that meets U.S. verification requirements while respecting Indian sensitivities. Enhanced end-use monitoring will be a requirement of any potential F-16 or F-18 sale due to inclusion of weapon systems containing sensitive technology.) Kumar noted that the Indians had excellent January/February meetings with Mr. Kohler. Kohler had agreed that a team from the Department of Defense will eventually visit India to brief the government. This visit would serve as the platform to agree on a set of assurances for end-use. Kumar also said that "End-use is not prescribed by your law. We can implement it in any way." Boucher replied that, while not legally rigid, there is a world-wide practice that the U.S. supports. -------------- High Technology Cooperation Group -------------- ¶16. (C) Kumar raised the Validated End User, or Trusted Customer, program, discussed at the February High Technology Cooperation Group meetings. The Commerce Department responded to India,s non-paper from December and agreed to examine possible regulatory changes for India on certain crime control, chemical/ biological, and regional stability controls. -------------- The CIRRUS Case -------------- ¶17. (C) Boucher quickly warned that the recent FBI arrests have significant implications for all high tech cooperation. Commerce officials have discussed with the Indians that some sort of end-use assurances will be necessary, but the recent FBI arrests are inconsistent with those assurances. Kumar responded that they have already started looking into this. "We've got feedback from our side, which they are now putting in a formal written format. What I see, procedurally, is that the Singapore branch of CIRRUS technically did not ask the Indian client for an end-use certificate. There was one global tender and one limited tender. They were to supply, but there was no demand for any end-use paperwork." Boucher said that this would come out in the judicial process. He urged the Indians to appear that they are on our side here and suggested they make it clear to the media that any illegal activity will be investigated, and if illegal activity took place within the Indian Embassy, necessary action would be taken. Boucher further encouraged Kumar "not to mount a defense." ¶18. (C) Kumar rebutted that she understood that the Embassy official had informed U.S. authorities that he would be NEW DELHI 00001723 005 OF 005 looking at the specified equipment. "It was all above board. We will verify though. It has only been six or seven days since the incident, but we have moved very fast and we are taking it very seriously." Boucher again reiterated that forthright contrition would be better than a defensive posture. -------------- Agriculture Knowledge Initiative -------------- ¶19. (SBU) Kumar said that they are conducting internal meetings to see where they are on funding. Background: The United States has funded approximately $15 million of its $24 million commitment, while the Indian Government has funded approximately $5 million of its $80 million commitment, although it claims more funds are readily available. -------------- Comment: Much Progress, Some Concerns -------------- ¶20. (C) The 50 minute conversation reflected the broad range of items on which the U.S. and India are working closely together. While most issues are progressing well, we are concerned about Kumar's robust defense of Indian actions surrounding the FBI arrests, and worry that the Indians may permit their assertions to play out in the media instead of being forthright, cooperative, and contrite. ¶21. (U) Assistant Secretary Boucher cleared this message. MULFORD