This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2015 
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC EAID KDEM IN PK IZ BM CE US

SUBJECT: PM UPBEAT ON US-INDIA RELATIONS REAFFIRMS EXPORT  CONTROL COMMITMENT WITH CODEL FRIST 
  Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford, Reason 1.5 (B,D) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: Senators Frist, McConnell, DeWine and  Coleman discussed a broad range of issues with PM Manmohan  Singh during their January 10 meeting, including US-India  ties, Tsunami disaster relief, democratization in Burma,  HIV/AIDS, trade and the WTO, Iraq, NSSP, Indo-Pak relations,  and UNSC reform.  The PM remained non-committal regarding  expanding Indian involvement in Iraq beyond providing  election assistance.  End Summary. 
  Close Bilateral Ties 
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¶2.  (C) Emphasizing the importance India places on the  US/India relationship, the PM referred to the NSSP,  investment, growing trade, and India's desire for FDI from  the US, emphasizing specifically bilateral cooperation in  counterterrorism, halting WMD proliferation, and working with  the US within the WTO to establish a non-discriminatory  trading system.  Noting that India's relations with the US  were ""of the highest priority,"" he expressed his desire to  ""deepen and broaden"" ties, especially in the high-tech and  defense areas.  The PM pointed out that he had met with  President Bush in New York on the margins of the UNGA last  fall, and was looking forward to seeing him again this year. 
Stating that there was a growing convergence between Indian  and US interests, based in part on our strong democratic  traditions, PM Singh called the US and India ""partners.""  He  hoped that Indian expertise in IT and biotech would further  bilateral cooperation, and explained that the GOI wants to  create an ""environment for entrepreneurship in India,"" so  that its citizens would no longer have to emigrate.  Senator  Frist responded by underlining his wish to build on growing  US-India ties, which now include a strong Indian-American  dimension. 
Disaster Relief 
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¶3.  (C) After extending condolences regarding the Tsunami  disaster, Senator Frist referred to his previous stop in Sri  Lanka, where the Sri Lankan President had expressed gratitude  to India for its support, noting that New Delhi had gained in  respect internationally both as a victim and a donor.  The PM  thanked the US for its support and assistance to the GOI  Tsunami relief effort, adding that he deeply appreciated the 
  SIPDIS  Secretary's visit to the Indian Embassy in Washington.  The 
  SIPDIS  PM characterized the establishment of the ""core group"" as a  ""good and timely"" step.  Noting that for India the suffering  was restricted to its South and Eastern islands, the PM hoped  that future Indian economic development would take such  potential disasters into account. 
  Democratization in Burma 
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¶4.  (C) Senator McConnell asked the PM whether he was  troubled by India's ties with the Burmese junta, and how he  felt about hosting General Than Shwe last October.  PM Singh  replied that he holds ASSK in very high regard for the values  she promotes, but pointed out that India has a 1400 kilometer  land border with Burma, as well as 850 kilometers of shared  coastline along the Bay of Bengal, and that the insurgents in  some of India's northeastern states take shelter in Burma. 
These factors compel India and Burma to talk, he said, and  recalled that he had told both General Than Shwe and the  Indian Parliament that Burma must do everything possible to  honor its own previously stated commitment to restore  democracy. 
  HIV/AIDS 
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¶5.  (C) In response to Senator DeWine's question about how  India was dealing with HIV/AIDS and the role the  international community could play in these efforts, the PM  pointed out that there were now five million AIDS sufferers  in India.  Characterizing AIDS as a ""major national problem,""  he said that it could affect India's economic development,  especially because of its impact on the young.  Stressing  that the GOI takes the problem ""very seriously,"" he noted his  engagement with youth in his fight against AIDS.  While  culture often prevents open discussion of this issue, he had  met with the media to enlist their support.  The PM expressed  appreciation for the support of American and international  donor organizations in this battle, and noted that the GOI  would commit more resources. 
Trade and the WTO 
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¶6.  (C) Senator Coleman then asked how the US and India could  work better together on trade/WTO issues, and Senator Frist  pointed out that the USG would like to see more GOI action on  economic reform, including lower tariffs and improved IPR  protection.  In response, the PM said that both countries  want to improve the WTO, and he wants to ensure that it will  provide a rule-based, non-discriminatory framework for  international trade.  He was pleased with the last round of  WTO talks, in which he said the US and India had worked  closely together.  The PM reiterated that the GOI is  committed to moving forward together with the US, has already  introduced an ordinance to prevent copyright infringement,  and expects to introduce legislation to enshrine these  measures into law. 
  Iraq 
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¶7.  (C) Senator Frist noted that it is clear there will be an  election in Iraq on January 30, and bringing democracy and  stability to Iraq must be a real international effort, given  that the outcome there effects everyone, including India. 
Responding, PM Singh expressed his support for US efforts in  Iraq and agreed that it was crucial that the election be held  as scheduled.  It was vital, the PM said, that the US succeed  in Iraq as it has in Afghanistan, although Iraq is a more  complex and dangerous situation.  He reiterated India's offer  to train election officials for Iraq in India.  Senator  McConnell pointed out that there are two more elections  scheduled in Iraq for 2005, one to ratify the new  constitution, and one to elect a new government at the end of  the year, and encouraged the PM to help with Iraqi elections  running into the future. 
  NSSP 
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¶8.  (C) Emphasizing that the USG would like to reinforce and  support the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) and  expand talks on Missile Defense, Senator Frist commented that  the US and India need to improve export control  implementation and enforcement to achieve their joint NSSP  goals.  The PM replied that India takes its nonproliferation  obligations seriously, has strong export controls, and wants  to halt the spread of WMD. 
  India/Pakistan Relations 
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¶9.  (C) Commenting that US relations with India and Pakistan  were not a ""zero-sum"" game and that they should develop  independently, Senator Frist noted that the US fully supports  a bilateral Indo-Pak approach to Kashmir.  PM Singh responded  that India is committed to solving all outstanding issues  with Islamabad, although any settlement must be based on  ground realities, as India cannot support changes of  boundaries, especially when based on religion, as this would  undermine India's secular character, and be unacceptable to  the public at large.  Instead, he noted, people on both sides  of the LOC should have greater opportunities to travel and  trade.  Since India is a ""status quo power,"" it wishes  Pakistan well and hopes it can bring its problems with  terrorism and extremism under control. 
  United Nations Reform 
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¶10.  (C) Senator Coleman ended the meeting by pointing out  that both India and the US want a ""credible, effective,  transparent UN,"" and hoped that both countries could work  together on UN reform.  The PM replied that India agrees that  the UN is in need of reform and seeks a permanent seat on the  UNSC. 
  ¶11.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
MULFORD