INDIA TO INVESTIGATE DETONATOR SALES TO SYRIA,

S E C R E T NEW DELHI 000151

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: ETTC MARR MCAP MOPS PARM PINR PREL PTER IN SY
SUBJECT: INDIA TO INVESTIGATE DETONATOR SALES TO SYRIA,
UPDATE EXPORT CONTROLS CONSISTENT WITH WASSENAAR

REF: A. SECSTATE 4489

B. SECSTATE 4690

Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B and D)


1. (S) Ministry of External Affairs Under Secretary for
Disarmament and International Security Affairs (DISA) Mr.
Vipul told Poloff January 23 that India took very seriously
ref A information about the sale by two Indian firms of
Wassenaar-controlled detonators to Syria, and said India
would investigate the matter. Speaking informally and
without guidance, Vipul shared that Indian private sector
manufacturers generally produced explosives appropriate only
for civil applications (like mining),but that explosives
with military applications were "normally" produced by public
sector entities controlled by the government, which he
referred to as Indian Ordinance Factories. He was not
acquainted with the two specific firms indicated in ref A,
but said he hoped an internal investigation could answer the
questions about the circumstances of any such transfer.


2. (C) Vipul reaffirmed that although India was not a member
of the Wassenaar Arrangement, it had every intention to
adhere to its guidelines, and indicated that he understood
the implications of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria
Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). Vipul shared that India
shared the conclusions of the October 2007 paper outlining
the U.S. understanding of the remaining differences between
India's SCOMET list and the Wassenaar control list, adding
that India did not see a need to respond formally with
another letter or a counter-draft. Rather, he shared that
India was in the process of holding inter-agency meetings to
follow up on updating its SCOMET 'List 6' (on munitions)
consistent with our shared understanding of the Wassenaar
requirements. He elaborated, "I know you have heard all this
before, that we are working on it, but I can assure you the
process to work out an inter-agency consensus is well
underway." He added that a meeting had been scheduled for
December 2008, but hinted it was postponed following the
Mumbai attacks, and would be held "very soon." (Note:
Counter-terrorism also falls under DISA's purview at the
Ministry of External Affairs.)


3. (C) Vipul also read with interest ref B nonpaper on the
results of the 2008 plenary of the Missile Technology Control
Regime (MTCR) in Canberra. He said India welcomed the MTCR
read-out and would welcome, in particular, updates on Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) proceedings. He said he would have to
await formal guidance to respond to the India-specific
points, but reaffirmed in principle India's interest in
further export control talks with the U.S.


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