INDIA: DEMARCHE ON MEF LEADERS MEETING DELIVERED

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001287 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG SENV PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: INDIA: DEMARCHE ON MEF LEADERS MEETING DELIVERED REF: STATE 059852 ¶1. (SBU) Charge D'Affairs (CDA) delivered reftel demarche to Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and Minister for Science and Technology, on June 19. CDA emphasized to Minister Chavan that the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF),and a strong Leaders' Statement, was very important to the U.S. Government and specifically to President Obama. CDA acknowledged to Minister Chavan that the U.S. and India differ in perspectives on some issues, but prevailed on him for India to find flexibility so that the MEF could have a Leaders' Statement with substance. Minister Chavan listened, and noted that Special Envoy for Climate Change Shyam Saran and his team would be leaving tonight for the Mexico meeting, but had no other response. ¶2. (U) NOTE: The NSC sent building blocks for a strong Leaders' Statement to India's Saran on 16 June. Saran responded with a strongly worded dipnote on 18 June noting India's disagreement and preference for a general Leaders' Statement. END NOTE. ¶3. (U) Meeting Participants included: -- Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State, Ministry of Science and Technology -- Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology -- Mr. Y.P. Kumar, Head of International Relations, Department of Science and Technology -- Mr. Pankag Saran, Joint Secretary (MEA),Prime Minister's Office. -- Charge D'Affairs Ambassador Peter Burleigh -- Acting Science Counselor Heather Broman BURLEIGH