Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI2722
2007-06-12 05:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA ENHANCING TIES WITH LIBYA
how-toVZCZCXRO2187 OO RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHNE #2722 1630554 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 120554Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6205 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 6283 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 5080 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI IMMEDIATE 0585 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 7755 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA IMMEDIATE 0149 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 3997 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI IMMEDIATE 9778 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR IMMEDIATE 4563 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002722
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN LY ENRG KPET ECON
SUBJECT: INDIA ENHANCING TIES WITH LIBYA
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002722
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN LY ENRG KPET ECON
SUBJECT: INDIA ENHANCING TIES WITH LIBYA
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of External Affairs Director
for West Africa and North Africa N.J. Gangte characterized
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Pranab Mukherjee's 26-28 May
visit to Tripoli as "a political blessing to the bilateral
economic activity." Mukherjee and Libyan FM Abul Rehman
Shalgem signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement (BIPA) that provides a framework for
increased Indian investment in the oil and petroleum,
information technology, and small and medium enterprise
sectors of Libya's economy. They also signed a cultural
agreement that will facilitate a Cultural Exchange Program
pact in the near future, Gangte reported. In addition,
Mukherjee met with Col. Gaddafi and Prime Minister Baghdadi
Mahmudi and briefed them on developments in the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) forum, the
India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue, India-China relations, and
the trilateral India-Russia-China dialogue. According to
Gangte and press reports, Col. Gaddafi signaled Libyan
support for India's permanent membership on an expanded
United Nations Security Council (UNSC). END SUMMARY
-------------- "The sky is the limit" --------------
2. (C) MEA summarized EAM Mukherjee's visit to Libya as a
resounding success. According to MEA Director N.J. Gangte,
BIPA is fundamental to Indian investment expansion in Libya,
as it provides the legal parameters for joint ventures,
profit repatriation, and the ground rules for foreign direct
investment. He said that, in addition to enlarging India's
presence in the oil and petroleum sectors of the Libyan
economy, India envisions providing manpower to expand Libya's
information technology and business sectors. Col. Gaddafi
embraces India and Libya's complementarities exclaiming that,
"The sky is the limit for cooperation between the two
countries," according to the Indian news portal "Rediff."
-------------- "Education will become a key part of the relationship"
--------------
3. (C) The GOI envisions education as an integral part of
future bilateral relations with Libya, Gangte said. He
emphasized that the cultural agreement signed by Mukherjee
and FM Shalgem was important because it enabled the two
countries to elevate bilateral exchanges in the education
field. "We can really contribute to education and capacity
building in Libya," he commented, "as Libya's education focus
is squarely on the United Kingdom and India." Libya can also
benefit from India's expertise in economic reform, and small
and medium-sized entrepreneurial endeavors, he opined.
Gangte observed that India needs to expand education programs
with Libya as approximately three hundred Libyans are
studying in India while over three thousand are studying in
the United Kingdom.
-------------- Libyan support for Indian permanent membership on the
UNSC --------------
4. (C) The MEA's official statement regarding the visit
noted that Mukherjee briefed Col. Gadaffi on SAARC, the
India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue, India-China relations, and
the India-Russia-China trilateral dialogue. While Gangte did
not provide details on the discussions, he did confirm press
reports that Col. Gadaffi fully supports UN reform and
India's candidacy as a permanent member of the UNSC as an
integral part of the reform.
5. (C) COMMENT: Mukherjee's visit to Libya was the highest
level visit by an Indian official since PM Indira Gandhi's
1984 trip. The visit does provided a stamp of approval for
an economic relationship that has increased from sixteen
million in bilateral trade in 2001-2002 to over 180 million
in 2005-2006. MEA estimates that there are over 10,000
Indians living in Libya, so no doubt Delhi has welcomed U.S.
rapprochement with Tripoli. With Libya off the international
blacklist, it will be full steam ahead for India in its
engagement with Tripoli. END COMMENT.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN LY ENRG KPET ECON
SUBJECT: INDIA ENHANCING TIES WITH LIBYA
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of External Affairs Director
for West Africa and North Africa N.J. Gangte characterized
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Pranab Mukherjee's 26-28 May
visit to Tripoli as "a political blessing to the bilateral
economic activity." Mukherjee and Libyan FM Abul Rehman
Shalgem signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement (BIPA) that provides a framework for
increased Indian investment in the oil and petroleum,
information technology, and small and medium enterprise
sectors of Libya's economy. They also signed a cultural
agreement that will facilitate a Cultural Exchange Program
pact in the near future, Gangte reported. In addition,
Mukherjee met with Col. Gaddafi and Prime Minister Baghdadi
Mahmudi and briefed them on developments in the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) forum, the
India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue, India-China relations, and
the trilateral India-Russia-China dialogue. According to
Gangte and press reports, Col. Gaddafi signaled Libyan
support for India's permanent membership on an expanded
United Nations Security Council (UNSC). END SUMMARY
-------------- "The sky is the limit" --------------
2. (C) MEA summarized EAM Mukherjee's visit to Libya as a
resounding success. According to MEA Director N.J. Gangte,
BIPA is fundamental to Indian investment expansion in Libya,
as it provides the legal parameters for joint ventures,
profit repatriation, and the ground rules for foreign direct
investment. He said that, in addition to enlarging India's
presence in the oil and petroleum sectors of the Libyan
economy, India envisions providing manpower to expand Libya's
information technology and business sectors. Col. Gaddafi
embraces India and Libya's complementarities exclaiming that,
"The sky is the limit for cooperation between the two
countries," according to the Indian news portal "Rediff."
-------------- "Education will become a key part of the relationship"
--------------
3. (C) The GOI envisions education as an integral part of
future bilateral relations with Libya, Gangte said. He
emphasized that the cultural agreement signed by Mukherjee
and FM Shalgem was important because it enabled the two
countries to elevate bilateral exchanges in the education
field. "We can really contribute to education and capacity
building in Libya," he commented, "as Libya's education focus
is squarely on the United Kingdom and India." Libya can also
benefit from India's expertise in economic reform, and small
and medium-sized entrepreneurial endeavors, he opined.
Gangte observed that India needs to expand education programs
with Libya as approximately three hundred Libyans are
studying in India while over three thousand are studying in
the United Kingdom.
-------------- Libyan support for Indian permanent membership on the
UNSC --------------
4. (C) The MEA's official statement regarding the visit
noted that Mukherjee briefed Col. Gadaffi on SAARC, the
India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue, India-China relations, and
the India-Russia-China trilateral dialogue. While Gangte did
not provide details on the discussions, he did confirm press
reports that Col. Gadaffi fully supports UN reform and
India's candidacy as a permanent member of the UNSC as an
integral part of the reform.
5. (C) COMMENT: Mukherjee's visit to Libya was the highest
level visit by an Indian official since PM Indira Gandhi's
1984 trip. The visit does provided a stamp of approval for
an economic relationship that has increased from sixteen
million in bilateral trade in 2001-2002 to over 180 million
in 2005-2006. MEA estimates that there are over 10,000
Indians living in Libya, so no doubt Delhi has welcomed U.S.
rapprochement with Tripoli. With Libya off the international
blacklist, it will be full steam ahead for India in its
engagement with Tripoli. END COMMENT.
MULFORD