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O 250609Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1030
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCNNSG/NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6832
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2611
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5569
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1437
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6202

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000857 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM TSPL KNNP ETTC ENRG TRGY ECON
BM, IN 
SUBJECT: CODEL PELOSI DISCUSSES CIV-NUKE AND OTHER ISSUES 
WITH INDIAN MPS 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: On March 20 Speaker Pelosi and her 
delegation, and Ambassador Mulford and the DCM, held 
discussions with Indian Members of Parliament (MP) from 
across the political spectrum. The civil nuclear initiative 
dominated the 45 minute meeting but Tibet, Burma and the Doha 
trade talks were also mentioned. During the friendly 
conversation the MPs in favor of the deal asked that US 
officials speak with one voice, while those against explained 
their opposition. Though the forum did not break new ground 
on Civ-Nuke, Ambassador Mulford reiterated for the MPs who 
were unclear that the US and allies such as the UK and France 
consider a minority or caretaker government to have 
sufficient standing to complete the deal. Not intended as a 
session to "convert" MPs who oppose the deal, the meeting 
successfully brought together top-level legislators from the 
world's oldest and largest democracies and ended with mutual 
pledges of friendship and cooperation. End Summary. 
 
Initial Question on Tibet 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) After an exchange of pleasantries and comments from 
both sides about the strong growth of the Indo-US 
relationship, Nationalist Congress Party MP Robert Kharshiing 
(Meghalaya) asked about the CODEL's view of the situation in 
Tibet. Speaker Pelosi first thanked India for its hospitality 
in providing sanctuary to the Dalai Lama and remarked that 
the CODEL would be traveling to Dharamsala the next day 
(septel). She stressed that the Dalai Lama has always been in 
favor of autonomy, not independence for Tibet. A good 
resolution would be achieved in Tibet, the Speaker hoped, due 
to the intense international focus now on the region. 
 
Civ-Nuke Dominates Discussion 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Congressman McDermott then turned the discussion to 
the civil nuclear initiative.  Congress Party MP and 
spokesman Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Rajasthan) led off 
stating that the UPA clearly wants the deal but noted that it 
is not helpful when different US officials make differing 
statements about the Hyde Act. He also said that some 
comments from US officials sound like "deadlines," which only 
provokes further opposition. Speaker Pelosi affirmed to the 
MPs that the Hyde Act does not have a timetable nor was the 
CODEL delivering a timetable. 
 
¶4. (U) Chandan Mitra, editor of the right-wing daily 
newspaper Pioneer, told the CODEL that the opposition's 
misgivings are not with the 123 Agreement, but with the Hyde 
Act. The Hyde Act is seen as restrictive, he said, and 
against India's interests because it has provisions which 
intrude on India's sovereignty. With these misgivings, he was 
not sure the infringement of sovereignty was worth it, given 
that nuclear power would only account for seven percent of 
India's energy by 2020. 
 
¶5. (U) Application and enforcement of the Hyde Act versus the 
123 Agreement generated many questions from the MPs. 
Samajwadi Party MP Shadid Siddiqui (Uttar Pradesh) distilled 
many of the comments when he asked, "Does the Hyde Act 
prevail on GOI?"  Congressman Sensenbrenner responded 
frankly, "I can't give you a flat answer on that." 
 
¶6. (U) All India Trinamool Congress Party MP Dinesh Trivedi 
(West Bengal) got to the political heart of the matter when 
he said, "The only question is does the UPA government want 
to survive for a few more weeks." He then asked if the US 
would sign the deal with a minority government. Ambassador 
Mulford responded that a minority or caretaker could enter 
into the deal and that US allies such as the UK and France 
agree. 
 
Doha Round Trade Talks 
---------------------- 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00000857  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7. (U) To a question about completion of the Doha Round of 
trade talks, Congressman Sensenbrenner responded that there 
would not likely be a vote in the US Congress before the 
presidential election. Speaker Pelosi further explained to 
the MPs that "free trade" currently garners little support in 
certain regions of the US, and that until the US economy 
rebounds, any new trade deals will be difficult to pass. 
 
Burma 
----- 
 
¶8. (U) Finally, the CODEL was asked for its views on Burma 
and pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. Speaker Pelosi 
told the MPs that the US was looking for guidance from India 
and commented that, "Maybe you could do more." 
 
Deepening Ties Regardless of Civ-Nuke 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) Comment: Both sides appreciated the frank and open 
discussion. Battle lines have hardened in India on the 
nuclear initiative and the exchange of views was not intended 
to persuade MPs opposed to the deal to convert. Congress 
Party leaders will decide its fate. But the meeting of 
top-level legislators succeeded by strengthening the 
government to government linkages between the world's oldest 
and largest democracies. End Comment. 
MULFORD