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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KNNP SOCI IN
SUBJECT: CODEL VOINOVICH MEETING WITH PM SINGH 
 
Classified By: A/DCM George Deikun for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  In a December 29 meeting with Prime Minister 
Manmohan Singh, Codel Voinovich (consisting of Senator 
Voinovich, and Congressmen Turner, Gingrey, Pearce and 
Bishop) expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister's 
leadership in bringing U.S.-India relations to new heights. 
Senator Voinovich pushed for the conclusion of the 123 
Agreement and the civil-nuclear initiative.  Members urged 
the Indian government to take on a more positive, leadership 
role in promoting reconciliation and democracy in Burma, and 
in assuring Iran does not seek to develop weapons of mass 
destruction.  They also pressed for greateQdefense 
cooperation, freedom from religious persecution of 
Christians, and collaboration in the war on terrorism.  PM 
Singh praised the U.S. Congress for its role in enhancing the 
bilateral relationship, described India's economic 
revolution, reiterated his desire to conclude the civ-nuke 
deal, explained India's similar objectives in Burma and Iran 
-- even if tactics on how to achieve those objectives differ, 
offered assurances that religious tolerance is a pillar of 
Indian society, and said he welcomed closer military 
cooperation. There were also discussions on India-Pakistan 
relations in the wake of the assassination of Prime Minister 
Bhutto, the political phenomenon of Gujarat Chief Minister 
Narendra Modi, India-Russia relations and democracy in 
Russia, India's development, energy security and the 
environment. End Summary. 
 
India "On the Move" 
----- 
 
¶2. (C) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began the December 29 
meeting with Senator Voinovich and Congressmen Turner, Peace, 
Gingrey, and Bishop by expressing his personal gratitude to 
the Senator and to the U.S. Congress for its work on the 
civil-nuclear initiative and friendship to India.  Describing 
India as "on the move," the Prime Minister listed India's 
recent achievements, including a gross domestic product 
growth rate of around 9 percent and a domestic savings rate 
around 35 percent of GDP.  Saying his goal is for a GDP 
growth rate around 10 percent over the next 10 years, PM 
Singh stated his government is trying to create an 
environment which will widen India's options for future 
development.  He noted that mass poverty still affects a 
large segment of the population, but that strong democratic 
institutions and stability should enable India to create 
environment for growth.  India will rely on the goodwill of 
the international community, particularly the United States, 
with whom India has made a determined effort to improve 
relations during the last three years, he said. 
 
¶3. (C) Senator Voinovich noted that he and the Prime Minister 
had met while he was Governor of Ohio, which PM Singh said he 
recalled, then praised PM Singh for his leadership during a 
time when relations are the best they have ever been.  He 
stated that he and his colleagues in the U.S. Congress 
desired to work with the Indian government to make relations 
even stronger. 
 
India-Pakistan Post-Bhutto 
----- 
 
¶4. (C) Turning to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and 
events in Pakistan, PM Singh said India is deeply saddened by 
Bhutto's demise, however, India has been deeply engaged with 
Pakistan in recent years to attempt to resolve outstanding 
issues, and is committed to better relations with Pakistan. 
The bilateral process slowed since Pakistan's internal 
political problems swelled beginning in February 2007, but 
India's desire to live in peace with its neighbor continues. 
"I have often said I believe our destinies are linked," PM 
Singh stated.  Pakistan is going through "a difficult phase," 
he said, and no one can predict how the situation there will 
evolve.  PM Singh described three pillar institutions 
existing in Pakistan as the army, which remains cohesive at 
this point; the political parties, which are weakened and not 
allowed to freely function; and civil society, which is still 
 
NEW DELHI 00000007  002 OF 004 
 
 
underdeveloped.  Until all three pillars can work with 
dedicated cohesion for the interests of the country, PM Singh 
said he did not see how Pakistan will evolve.  The 
international community should work to strengthen the 
political process in Pakistan, he opined.  India had welcomed 
the return to Pakistan of Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, however 
past elections were not free.  What is clear in Pakistani 
elections is that the Pakistani people do not approve of 
extremist groups, he explained. 
 
The Modi Phenomenon 
----- 
 
¶5. (C) In response to the Senator's question regarding the 
recent political success of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra 
Modi, the Prime Minister stated that while it was true that 
Modi and his nationalistic style were popular in Gujarat, the 
Indian people overall value secularism, equal rights, the 
rule of law and fundamental human freedoms.  He added these 
values were "gifts our leaders learned from studying the U.S. 
constitution." 
 
Civil-Nuclear Agreement 
----- 
 
¶6. (C) Senator Voinovich expressed Congress' concern over 
whether there is the political support in India to complete 
the 123 Agreement and civil-nuclear initiative.  PM Singh 
replied that India desires this "historic" agreement to go 
through, and expressed his gratitude to President Bush and 
the U.S. Congress for the deal.  He explained that "some 
partners" in his coalition government (Note: read: the 
communist left. End Note.) do not like to see India get too 
close to the U.S., and while the government believed it had 
sufficiently debated the deal in parliament and responded to 
a nine-point list of concerns from its partners, opponents 
had changed their mindset and continue to oppose the deal. 
He pointed out that Indian representatives are soon returning 
to the International Atomic Energy Agency to negotiate an 
India-specific safeguards agreement, adding he is confident 
they will be able to reach an acceptable agreement. 
Referring to his meeting with IAEA Director Mohammad 
EQBaradei in October, PM Singh said that El-Baradei had 
suggested India should have little difficulty completing its 
safeguards agreement.  PM Singh went on to describe India's 
record on non-proliferation and export controls, stating 
India wants a strong international non-proliferation regime. 
India had felt the need to conduct its nuclear tests "because 
of the region we're in," he stated, "but there should be no 
doubt that all parties in India do not want nuclear 
proliferation." 
 
¶7. (C) The Prime Minister agreed with Senator Voinovich on 
the environmental advantages of nuclear energy, and PM Singh 
said nuclear energy can play a significant role in India's 
energy security.  PM Singh noted how he had mentioned this to 
President Bush in 2005, and commended the President for 
offering India the civil-nuclear initiative.  India is 
currently undergoing two revolutions, PM Singh said, one in 
the growth of modern services, and the second in the 
transition away from a subsistence economy.  In both cases, 
India will need to reduce energy intensity and install 
technologies which can fuel growth.  Senator Voinovich 
inquired about the success of the Asia Pacific Partnership, 
which the U.S. Congress passed in 2005, to which PM Singh 
replied there had been "substantial progress," and offered 
cooperation with India to work with developing countries as 
Congress considers pending environmental legislation.  PM 
Singh said India realizes its global responsibilities on the 
environment and will play its role. 
 
A Push for Leadership on Burma and Iran 
----- 
 
¶8. (C) India's relations with Burma and India are a concern, 
Senator Voinovich told PM Singh.  Congressman Bishop added 
that the U.S. looks to India for leadership in the region, 
adding the United States and India have common interests and 
 
NEW DELHI 00000007  003 OF 004 
 
 
should work together to find peaceful solutions.  The Prime 
Minister explained that India shared the same objectives with 
the international community on Burma, and that he personally 
had told Than Shwe of the need for rapid movement toward 
national reconciliation and democratization, to include the 
release of political prisoners and the inclusion of Aung San 
Suu Kyi and all political parties. India also supports the UN 
mission to Burma led by Ibrahim Gambari.  However, India does 
not believe that sanctions are effective, he asserted, as in 
India's experience sanctions do not harm the authoritarian 
regimes as much as they do the poor and ordinary people. 
India would encourage more interaction with a broader range 
of Burmese officials to try to influence them and show them 
what their country is missing. 
 
¶9. (C) On Iran, India supports whatever United Nations 
Security Council resolutions there are, PM Singh claimed, 
adding "but what you have to recognize is we live in this 
region."  India has several interests in Iran, such as 
historic ties, 12 percent of its oil imports, 150 million 
Shi'a Muslims living in India, and a diaspora of around five 
million Indians living in Gulf Coast countries, whose 
remittances help India's balance of payments.  Iran must 
honor its Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty obligations, PM 
Singh said, but the controversy over Iran's nuclear program 
must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue, preferably 
through the IAEA.  PM Singh admitted India did not have its 
own intelligence on Iran's nuclear programs or intentions, 
saying India relies on the IAEA's assessments.  He again 
referred to his meeting with El-Baradei, saying that 
technology may not be a barrier to Iran's development of a 
nuclear weapon, but there are political and other barriers to 
Iran developing an effective nuclear deterrent.  Congressman 
Gingrey cited the findings of the recent National 
Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear capabilities, noting 
that Iran could reinstitute its weapons program in a short 
period of time.  PM Singh replied that India did not have its 
own assessment, but added that IAEA assessments noted there 
are gray areas.  He later said that he had told Henry 
Kissinger that Iran is likely seeking recognition from the 
United States, and that Iran would like a dialogue on energy 
security, tensions in the Middle East, and other issues.  PM 
Singh believed it would be difficult to find peaceful 
solutions tot he problems in Iraq, Israel-Palestine, or 
Lebanon without the involvement of Iran. 
 
Greater Defense Cooperation 
----- 
 
¶10. (C) Congressman Turner pointed out that the delegation 
included three members of the Armed Services Committee and 
said he looked forward to greater military cooperation.  The 
Prime Minister said India was very happy with the increase in 
joint exercises, particularly large-scale ones.  India finds 
the recent defense cooperation to be mutually rewarding, and 
the Prime Minister agreed with Congressman Turner's desire to 
find ways for our militaries to work more closely together. 
 
India-Russia and Russian Democracy 
----- 
 
¶11. (C) Senator Voinovich cited India's history of good 
relations with Russia and noted many people are concerned 
with the path democracy has taken under President Putin.  PM 
Singh urged not to consider Russia in a mechinistic manner, 
as each country must be allowed to determine its own route. 
While India would like to see democracy spread, it has to 
evolve and cannot be put in some rigid framework, he argued. 
PM Singh added that Russians he has spoken with feel a sense 
of accomplishment with Putin, compared with how the country 
felt under President Yeltsin. 
 
Persecution of Christians and Dealing with Muslim Extremists 
----- 
 
¶12. (C) Congressman Pearce brought up the issue of 
persecution of Christians in India, citing the violence 
directed at Christians in Orissa in mid-December.  He also 
 
NEW DELHI 00000007  004 OF 004 
 
 
asked how the Indian government balances religious 
persecution with the handling of Muslim extremists.  PM Singh 
energetically replied that religious tolerance is an 
important issue to his government.  His government took 
immediate action in Orissa, he said, providing the local 
government with a rapid reaction force and other security 
assets.  He also had spoken with the Archbishop of Delhi the 
night before, and had assured him the government was 
committed to protecting the rights of Christians, as well as 
all other religions.  While he could not promise there would 
not be incidents in a country of a billion people, he did say 
"You have my assurance, we will never allow these aberrations 
to become the norm."  He added that India, whose faithful 
include all the major religions, celebrates its diversity. 
Dealing with Muslim extremists was "not an easy problem" in a 
country with 150 million Muslims, he explained, and admitted 
to concern that extremists may have infiltrated Indian 
madrases.  He described efforts to strengthen intelligence on 
extremist groups, and said investigations of recent terrorist 
attacks have all led to organizations based outside of India. 
 He hoped that U.S. and Indian intelligence agencies could 
work closer together to combat terrorism.  The Prime Minister 
admitted Muslims in India often have legitimate grievances of 
being left behind economically, but the government is taking 
measures to ensure Muslims are not being discriminated 
against.  The government has also asked Muslim leaders, such 
as Muslim members of parliament, to impress upon India's 
Muslim population the need for moderation. 
 
¶13. (U) Codel Voinovich has cleared this message. 
WHITE