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 NEW DELHI 00004887 001.2 OF 002 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. NEW DELHI 00004887 002.2 OF 002 -- 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. WHITE