MERKEL URGES INDIAN ACTION ON BURMA, IRAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 004887

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS KUNR AF BM GM IR IN
SUBJECT: MERKEL URGES INDIAN ACTION ON BURMA, IRAN,
AFGHANISTAN

REF: NEW DELHI 04766

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Classified By: POLCOUNS Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: German Chancellor Angela Merkel took
advantage of her first visit to India to address recent
developments and crises in India's neighborhood and
beyond. Merkel urged India to publicly condemn Burma for
its recent anti-democratic internal crackdowns. Prime
Minister Singh sidestepped the request yet promised India
was pressuring the Burmese "behind the scenes." Merkel
raised the possibility of further sanctions against Iran,
which met with Singh's disapproval. Merkel suggested
partnering with India to further Afghan development, citing
education as a possibility, yet refrained from suggesting
Indian involvement in Afghan security, keeping in mind the
sensitivity of this proposition. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited New Delhi
October 29 to November 2 accompanied by a large business
and science delegation (reftel). On October 30 she met
with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss a wide
range of bilateral and strategic international issues.
Philipp Ackermann, German Minister Counselor for Political
Affairs, gave Poloff the following readout on November 6.

-- Burma --


3. (C) Merkel urged India to put publicly pressure the
Burmese Government to protest its recent crackdown on
domestic freedom. Singh professed that the GOI was doing a
lot of work behind the scenes which was not visible to the
international community, but because of India's sensitive
ties to Burma it could not publicly criticize the Burmese
Government.

-- Iran --


4. (C) Merkel suggested that further sanctions might be an
option to "bring Iran back on track." Singh demurred,
predicting that further sanctions would have the opposite
desired effect.

-- Afghanistan --


5. (C) Merkel proposed that Germany and India enter into a
joint development project for Afghanistan, suggesting
education as an example. Ackermann noted that she
intentionally did not suggest Indian involvement in their
police training or other security efforts, as the
Government of Germany is aware of Pakistan's sensitivities
about Indian security involvement in Afghanistan.

-- Defense: Strategic and Business --


6. (SBU) Ackermann confirmed that Germany and India signed
a defense Memorandum of Understanding on October 30 for
mutual protection of classified information with the intent
of deepening defense ties. Ackermann noted that this was
an innovation, not a renewal of any previous agreement.
German media confirmed October 30 that Airbus chief Thomas
Enders was one of the business leaders who accompanied
Merkel to India to advocate for EADS' Eurofighter aircraft,
which is competing against the Boeing F/A-18 and the
Lockheed Martin F-16 in India's open bid for 126 new
multi-role combat aircraft.


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-- UN Security Council Expansion -


7. (U) Both the Indian and German Governments used the
occasion of Merkel's visit to reaffirm their mutual support
for each other's bid for a permanent seat on the UN
Security Council.

-- German Foreign Minister to Visit India Early 2008 ---


8. (C) Ackermann conveyed that Foreign Minister
Walter-Steinmeier will visit India in February or March
2008, and President Koehler will also visit India next
year.

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