U/S TAUSCHER AND INDIAN NSA NARAYANAN DISCUSS NON-PRO AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002319 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM KNNP ENRG PK IN SUBJECT: U/S TAUSCHER AND INDIAN NSA NARAYANAN DISCUSS NON-PRO AND CIV-NUKE ISSUES Classified by Ambassador Tim Roemer for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a November 12 meeting with Indian National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher reviewed the status of USG efforts regarding START, CTBT, and the FMCT. Narayanan expressed great interest in USG efforts to refurbish weapons without testing through sound stockpile management practices, and identified this area as "rich for future cooperation." Turning to issues pertaining to the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, Narayanan provided a positive response to U/S Tauscher's call for greater GOI flexibility in addressing the issue of number of reprocessing sites so that a reprocessing arrangement can be initialed in advance of Prime Minister Singh's November 24 state visit. He took on board points made by U/S Tauscher and the Ambassador about the need for swift GOI action on Part 810 licensing assurances and liability legislation -- key civil nuclear legacy issue -- prior to the Prime Minister's visit. End Summary. START, CTBT, and FMCT Updates -------------- ¶2. (C) U/S Tauscher opened the cordial 40-minute meeting by updating Narayanan on the progress of important USG non-proliferation efforts. With regard to START, she noted that the existing agreement expires in 20 days. The administration hopes to conclude a bridging agreement with Russia in the coming weeks and obtain Senate ratification of a follow-on treaty next year. The administration will also seek ratification of the CTBT after extensive briefings and hearings to better inform senators and the public about CTBT importance. Regarding the FMCT, U/S Tauscher noted that she hoped Pakistan would come around to agreement. She acknowledged Narayanan's point that India "is not the problem" on FMCT. ¶3. (C) U/S Tauscher noted that a recurring weapons-related question from U.S. senators regards USG ability to refurbish weapons without testing. She said that effective refurbishment is possible through proper stockpile management, a process that allows the USG to know that weapons are safe and reliable without testing while maintaining sound environmental and security standards. Narayanan expressed keen interest in this process, stating that he wished to convince GOI officials that India does not need to test weapons. In reply to Narayanan's request to learn more about this process, possibly through a visit to USG facilities, U/S Tauscher stated that we wish to share as much of this sort of information as we can. Narayanan identified the matter as a "rich area of cooperation in the future." Civ-Nuke Issues -------------- ¶4. (C) U/S Tauscher expressed hope that a bilateral reprocessing agreement can be initialed prior to Prime Minister Singh's November 24 state visit, and she urged maximum GOI flexibility on the issue of number of reprocessing sites. She conceded that while it might have been better had the parties anticipated the need for two sites, they had stipulated to a single site and inclusion of an additional site at this time would require Congressional assent, whichcould be problematic. Narayanan stated that India will in the future require a reprocessing site on each coast to obviate the need for extensive transportation of nuclear waste. He indicated flexibility for an interim solution, however, and said the GOI would work with the USG to find "acceptable language." ¶5. (C) Regarding key outstanding implementation measures of the bilateral civil-nuclear agreement, U/S Tauscher and the Ambassador stressed the importance of GOI providing Part 810 licensing assurances and introducing liability legislation prior to PM Singh's visit. Ambassador Roemer encouraged Narayanan to complete and sign the Part 810 Licensing assurance before the PM's visit, as a sign of progress and goodwill. Narayanan stated that the GOI was moving NEW DELHI 00002319 002 OF 002 ahead on these measures. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador Roemer recommends we should follow up on this meeting with some specific offers to the GOI's National Security Advisor. These would include (1) sharing with him the reports that will be coming out in the next few months (i.e., the National Academy of Science study, an unclassified NIE on this subject, and documentation related to best practices on effective stockpile management); (2) encouraging the NSA to visit the United States in the spring and provide access, where permissible, to the appropriate USG facilities on stockpile management. Roemer