Clinton, Indian Foreign Minister Krishna After Their Meeting
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
June 13, 2012
2012/964
REMARKS
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
And Indian Foreign Minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna
After Their Meeting
June 13, 2012
Treaty Room
Washington, D.C.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. It has been a great pleasure to
welcome Minister Krishna and his distinguished delegation to Washington. We
have had an excellent meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between our two nations
covering a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, and I will just
touch on a few highlights.
First, I want to put this third Strategic Dialogue into a broader
context. India and the United States have a strong foundation of friendship and
cooperation. But today we are seeing something new. The strategic fundamentals
of our relationship are pushing our two countries' interests into closer
convergence.
By strategic fundamentals I mean not just our shared democratic values, but
also our economic imperatives and our diplomatic and security priorities. For
example, in order to grow and prosper in today's world, both the United States
and India need an open, free, fair, and transparent global economic system. We
both seek security and stability in South Asia and the Asia Pacific. And we
both see the importance of a coordinated international response to violent
extremism and other shared global challenges.
What does this mean for our partnership? Well, today there is less need
for dramatic breakthroughs that marked earlier phases in our relationship, but
more need for steady, focused cooperation aimed at working through our
differences and advancing the interests and values we share. This kind of
daily, weekly, monthly collaboration may not always be glamorous, but it is
strategically significant. And that is, after all, what this dialogue is all
about.
On the economic front, we reviewed the progress that we've made together,
and acknowledged there is still more room for growth, investment, and business
ties. We need to advance negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty, further
reduce barriers to trade and investment in our two countries, create more
hospitable environments for companies to do business.
And I was pleased that just yesterday, Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power
Corporation of India signed an agreement that will speed construction of new
power plants in Gujarat and help India meet its energy needs. I look forward to
additional deals involving other leading American companies, including General
Electric. And we will work together to ensure these projects are implemented to
produce real benefits for citizens and businesses alike.
We also covered a number of serious concerns such as counterterrorism,
cyber-security, and sustainable development. We discussed cooperation in
Afghanistan and the importance of working together with other partners to help
build a peaceful and prosperous South Asia. Both the United States and India
have signed strategic partnership agreements with Afghanistan to demonstrate our
enduring commitment, and today we agreed to move forward with a formal
trilateral consultation among our three nations. I told Minister Krishna how
much we appreciate India's efforts in Afghanistan and the region and how much we
are looking forward to the investment conference that India will host later this
month in New Delhi.
We also discussed the steps that the governments of India and Pakistan are
taking to open up avenues for trade, investment, and movement of people. And I
applaud the leadership that Prime Minister Singh and Prime Minister Gilani have
demonstrated.
We paid particular attention to the future of the Asia Pacific region and
our strong support for India's Look East Policy. We will work together through
key multilateral institutions such as the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN
Regional Forum. And the United States really welcomes India's support for our
participation as dialogue partner in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for
Regional Cooperation.
And finally, we worked through some of the issues that we have fielded in
common because of the concerns about Iran's continuing search for a nuclear
weapon, and India has made it clear that - Iran, like all countries, must live
up to their international obligations and, as I reported to Congress this week,
India has taken steps to diversify its sources of imported crude by reducing
purchases of Iranian oil. We recognize the important energy needs that India
has, and we're working with India, not only to ensure stable oil markets, but to
do more to open up other sources of energy for India.
Now, on all these and other key issues, we are working to convert common
interests into common actions. And we have to follow through. But I was very
encouraged by what we heard today. Things that don't make the headlines but are
so critical, such as yesterday's first ever higher education dialogue, making it
easier for U.S. and Indian researchers, students, faculty to take advantage of
the educational resources and opportunities in both countries. And we announced
the first eight grant recipients of the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge
Initiative.
Our Science and Technology Joint Commission are working on improving our
linkages in science and engineering and data sharing. We have a new agreement
signed in the health area to boost research on diabetes. And, for the first
time, we agreed to share the U.S.-India Open Government Platform software that
promotes transparency and accountability with a third country partner,
Rwanda.
The list is very long and the Minister and I will be making a comprehensive
report - he to the Prime Minister, I to the President - of everything that's
been happening in all of the various aspects of this incredibly important
dialogue.
But I want to thank my partner and colleague in this work for his
leadership and his attention that has translated this idea into a very important
reality for both our countries.
FOREIGN MINISTER KRISHNA: Thank you, Secretary Clinton. It is always a
pleasure for me to come back to Washington, D.C. because it is in this city that
I have spent a couple of years of my very interesting interaction into American
politics. And I had the pleasure of meeting some of great Americans who have
led this country subsequently in subsequent years.
And it is always an added pleasure for me, personally, to meet with
Secretary Clinton. I always derive so much of comfort and so much of
inspiration, if I may say so, Secretary Clinton.
Three years back, we started on this journey of this strategic
relationship. And this is the third year in succession that we are representing
our two great countries. And let me convey that we had a very productive
strategic dialogue. I want to thank all my ministerial colleagues and senior
officials for their participation. Our presence here speaks to the
extraordinary depth and diversity of our engagement, which is ever
increasing. The relationship between our two countries and our two vibrant
democracies, one the oldest and the other one the largest. Secretary Clinton
and I expressed confidence about realizing the enormous potentials of our
economic ties and addressing the concerns on both sides, which I had outlined at
USIBC yesterday.
We welcome the tangible progress on about similar nuclear energy
cooperation, as was mentioned by Secretary Clinton with the signing of the MOU
between NPCIL and the Westinghouse. I think this should put at rest some of the
interpretations and some of the confusion that was prevailing in the immediate
aftermath after we signed the nuclear accord. But I'm glad that things are now
- nuclear commerce is now beginning to expand itself and we hope more Indian and
American companies will be involved in the course of the coming months.
We, Secretary and I, support the growing emphasis on defense technology
transfers and core development and core production in our expanding defense
relationship. I have informed Secretary Clinton of our willingness to receive a
team of officials to visit India for the search and recovery of the remains of
the MIAs from World War II. Stronger and more effective cooperation in
counterterrorism, homeland security, cyber security, and intelligence in recent
years is an important aspect of our strategic partnership. India's interest in
further access to Headley and Rana in accordance with our legal procedures for
the investigations into the Mumbai terror attack of November 2008 was
raised.
We recommend the broad portfolio of cooperation in clean energy. I also
sought a liberal U.S. regime for gas exports to India, which would be in our
mutual economic and energy security interest. We agreed to strengthen the
impressive array of our programs in higher education, health, science and
technology, innovation, agriculture and women's empowerment. We have made
tangible progress in these areas.
As Secretary Clinton has pointed out, our discussions demonstrated yet
again our shared interest and convergent views on a range of regional and global
issues. We are committed to build Afghan capacity for governance, development,
and security, and to unlock its economic potential through regional
integration. We again stressed the importance of eliminations of safe havens in
Pakistan for Afghanistan's security and the region's stability.
We discussed the Gulf region and West Asia, including our concern about the
growing violence in Syria. Secretary Clinton updated me on the P-5+1 talks with
Iran. I conveyed India's vital interest in settlement of the Iranian nuclear
issue through dialogue. There are six million Indians who live in this region,
which is also of critical importance to our economy. We shared perspectives on
the profound changes taking place in Myanmar, and also I briefed her on Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh's recent visit to Myanmar.
Friends, we continue to intensify our dialogue on Asia Pacific and the
Indian Ocean region. As also associated regional architectures, we affirmed our
mutual interest in maritime security. Secretary Clinton welcomed India's
growing engagement in the Asia Pacific. I welcomed the U.S. interest in
becoming a dialogue partner with IOR-ARC. I'm told that as the current chair,
we will take it forward with other IOR-ARC members.
Our meeting today yet again underscored the global dimensions of our
relationship and added new momentum to our partnership. Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.
MS. NULAND: Let's take two questions a side today. We'll start with CNN,
Jill Dougherty.
QUESTION: Thank you. Madam Secretary, you and Minister Lavrov of Russia
appear to be calling each other liars. In essence, you are saying that Russia
is providing helicopters - in fact, the word was used "en route" today - en
route to Syria. Minister Lavrov completely denies that; he says they're
providing air defense systems but everything that they are providing does not
violate international laws. Then he threw it back at you and said that the U.S.
indeed is providing arms and weapons.
So you can't both be right. Who is?
SECRETARY CLINTON: (Laughter.) Well, I was very clear yesterday about our
concerns regarding the continuing military relationship between Moscow and the
Assad regime. We have repeatedly urged the Russian Government to cut these
military ties completely and to suspend all further support and
deliveries. Obviously, we know, because they confirm that they continue to
deliver. And we believe that the situation is spiraling towards civil war, and
it's now time for everyone in the international community, including Russia and
all Security Council members, to speak to Assad with a unified voice and insist
that the violence stop, and come together with Kofi Annan to plan a political
transition going forward.
It is something that we believe is in everyone's interests, most
particularly the Syrian people. And Russia says it wants peace and stability
restored. It says it has no particular love lost for Assad. And it also claims
to have vital interests in the region and relationships that it wants to
continue to keep. They put all of that at risk if they do not move more
constructively right now.
And I would emphasize that the United States has provided no military
support to the Syrian opposition, none. All of our support has been medical and
humanitarian to help relieve the suffering of the Syrian people, a total of $52
million so far. We have also provided nonlethal support to the opposition,
including things like communications gear.
So rather than having a long distance debate with my colleague with whom I
work on so many issues on a regular basis, I would urge that we follow the lead
and request of Kofi Annan and come together to try to implement the pillars of
his plan, including a framework for a political transition. And that is what we
have been advocating for and that is what I stand ready to do.
MS. NULAND: Next question, Lalit Jha from PTI.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Minister. After three rounds of Strategic
Dialogue with the U.S., where is the relationship between the two countries
headed towards? A strong relationship between India and the U.S.? What is the
signal of masses you are sending the world or the region?
And Madam Secretary, three years ago, you addressed the USIBC, your first
speech on India. You have said this is the beginning of India-U.S. 3.0. After
your opening remarks today, is it the beginning of India-U.S. 4.0, and what it
would look like? And if you - do you agree with recent remarks by Secretary
Panetta in New Delhi that India needs to do more in Afghanistan? What is that
India needs to do?
Mr. Minister, is - (laughter) --
PARTICIPANT: A fourth question.
QUESTION: Does - India has a redline in Afghanistan which you say to U.S.,
"No, we can't do this?" And finally - (laughter) - India has made a request for
giving access to Rana and Headley, the two who were involved in the Mumbai
terrorist attack. Is the U.S. ready to give them access again? Thank
you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Do you want to start, Minister? I don't know where to
start. (Laughter.)
FOREIGN MINISTER KRISHNA: Well, where did you start? (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yeah. I will take a stab at it because it's one of
those multipart questions that is - let me try.
First of all, as to the Strategic Dialogue, we go from strength to
strength. I'm actually quoting the Minister today. Because we believe
strongly, and we have evidence to prove it, that our relationship is deepening
and broadening. The extraordinary work that has been done between the last
Strategic Dialogue and today's on so many issues, which we will memorialize in
our report and certainly make public, demonstrates the depth of cooperation
between our two countries. And it's not only government to government; we're
bringing in civil society, we're bringing in academia, we're bringing in the
private sector. So I, for one, believe that we may be surpassing 3.0. We may
be onto something that is quite unique and very important, and I appreciate your
asking.
Secondly, on Afghanistan, I was briefed on the work that India is doing
with Afghanistan. We very much appreciate India's commitment to help build a
better future for the Afghan people, helping them with more than $2 billion for
development, supporting the New Silk Road Initiative, hosting the investment
conference at the end of the month, providing security training and support. I
am very pleased that Afghanistan is getting this kind of encouragement and
tangible support because it's in everyone's interests that Afghanistan be as
secure and stable as possible.
With respect to information sharing, it is our policy and practice to share
information, and we do that. But I'm not going to go into details because we
think that our cooperation on intelligence sharing, on homeland security issues,
on counterterrorism, has gotten to a new level. It is very important to both of
our countries. But it's also important that we support the work that is done by
our professionals and our experts in protecting both of our countries, and I
think we are satisfied that that is occurring.
FOREIGN MINISTER KRISHNA: Well, the Strategic Dialogue that has taken
place with the United States in the last three years has been extremely
beneficial to India. The tangible outcomes of the broad-based discussions we
had and a vast array of issues are listed in the joint statement that has been
issued. If I am to list some of the most important areas where we have moved
ahead at the third Strategic Dialogue, I would unhesitatingly single out higher
education, science and technology, innovation, women's empowerment, and clean
energy.
I was very impressed with the way the Dialogue on Higher Education, which
represented not only government but vice chancellor was there and the academia -
representatives from the academia were also there. I think this is an important
moment in the most positive direction that not only the two governments are
involved in the Strategic Dialogue but the civil society. As was put by
Secretary Clinton, the civil society is also involved, the academia is also
involved, the people are also involved.
So hence, I think this Strategic Dialogue derives its basic strength from
this, and we will certainly continue to take this forward. There have been some
useful outcomes, then I mentioned about the agreement between the Westinghouse
and the NPCIL, and the shared interest and convergent views on a range of
regional and global issues that were evident in our talks today. It added - it
provided new momentum for our global strategic partnership.
But with reference to Afghanistan, well, India's role has always been a
very constructive approach. Afghanistan falls in the larger neighborhood of
India. And we have civilizational, historical, and trade connections and
cultural ties with that country and with the people of Afghanistan. And
President Karzai, when he came last October to Delhi, we signed a strategic
partnership with Afghanistan. And the whole purpose behind that is to convey to
the people of Afghanistan that the Afghan problem has to be solved under Afghan
leadership.
Yes, they need external support to the extent that is possible. And that
external support will not be available to Afghanistan indefinitely. And that is
the reason why we have impressed upon Afghanistan and other countries who are
well-meaning friends of Afghanistan that we need to equip Afghanistan with a
security force which is - which consists of Afghans, which is trained by Afghans
- trained by others but basically Afghan-led and Afghan. And so I think we will
continue to do that. And then I am sure that Afghanistan will be able to find a
solution within the four corners of their constitution, and we wish them
well.
MS. NULAND: Next question, CBS, Cami McCormick.
QUESTION: Thank you. Madam Secretary, if we could go back to Syria for
just a second, I'm wondering how bad have relations between the U.S. and Russia
gotten over this. There are some might - who might argue that it's almost
become as much about the U.S. and Russia poking each other than it is about the
real issue here. And how has that taken away, in your opinion, from what the
real goal is? And you always say diplomacy is key in this area.
And secondly, if Syria is spiraling towards civil war, what does that say
about the UN observer mission there? Are you concerned about their
safety? Would they remain in there in the same capacity if and when you are
ready to say it is a full-blown civil war?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, look, I think that everyone knows we have a very
comprehensive relationship with Russia. We have worked well together on a range
of important issues in the last three and a half years. The so-called reset
that President Obama and President Medvedev led at the beginning of this
Administration has been quite constructive and positive for certainly the United
States and Russia and the larger world.
We disagree on Syria. Now, it's not the only issue we disagree on, but it
is one where people are being killed every single day, where violence is
escalating, where the government has engaged in these brutal assaults against
unarmed civilians, including children. We disagree.
And we were encouraged when Russia, along with the other members of the
Security Council, supported Kofi Annan's plan. And we have been working very
hard with many nations to translate that plan into tangible steps that can be
taken. And it's clear that the voices of the entire international community
need to be clear in the message to Assad, that it is time for him to participate
in saving his own country from a downward spiral into even greater
violence. And as part of Special Envoy Kofi Annan's plan, that includes a
political transition.
So we've had numerous discussions, and we are remaining hopeful that Kofi
will be able to bring a relevant group of nations and multinational
organizations together to find a way forward. So we will state our position
very clearly and support Kofi Annan.
And we do so in part because we are worried about the UN mission. We think
that the events of the last week, where UN observers have been put at risk, even
in positions where they were attacked either intentionally or unintentionally in
the midst of the conflict, are worrisome. And I've talked about this last week
with Kofi. He does not want to put these brave men and women who are trying to
help protect civilians into situations that are absolutely untenable and
dangerous to them.
So all of these concerns have to be addressed, and I think it's time for
the international community, including Russia, to come to the table and be
constructive in trying to find a way forward.
MS. NULAND: Last question, Narayan Lakshman from the The Hindu.
QUESTION: Thank you. And I have only one question for each of
you. (Laughter.)
My first, Mr. Minister, my question is on the economic linkages between
India and the U.S., a key pillar of the Strategic Dialogue, where there appears
to be pressure on India to open up access to some of its markets more rapidly
and also some disappointments with India's decisions in the nuclear sector, at
least until recently, and defense sectors. How would you explain India's views
on these matters? And on the flipside, did you query the U.S. side on concerns
that India may have regarding U.S. policies that affect its economic
interests?
And Madam Secretary, to you --
SECRETARY CLINTON: One each. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Yeah, just one each. (Laughter.)
When you and Minister Krishna stood at the same podiums in 2010, you
described the relationship as an affair of the heart. And since then, however,
there have been various ups and downs. And for example, again until recently,
slow progress on civ-nuke and India's concerns maybe about protectionism and the
Iran question. So given the strong stand that both these countries have on
issues of mutual interest. Do you see any changes that you might propose to the
model, so to speak, that the U.S. has for this relationship?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, with respect to affairs of the heart, they
usually have ups and downs. (Laughter.) But that does not make them any less
heartfelt - (laughter) - or any less of a commitment. And so I feel as strongly
today as I did two years ago. And I think that it's always a temptation to zero
in on what the differences are. That is understandable and it certainly is to
be expected by the press. That's part of your job. But whether it's one
country or another or, in particular, India, I always look at the totality of
the relationship. And I would be never in a position to say we don't have
differences. How could two great nations with our histories and our political
systems - these raucous, incredibly pluralistic democracies - not have
differences? That would be quite odd if that were the case.
But there is no doubt that our values and our interests are converging,
that we have a view of this relationship that is in keeping with the
perspectives and histories that bring us together in the 21st century where we
are finding so much more common ground that we are working on together.
So I'm very positive about our relationship, and we will continue to work
through the differences as they arise.
FOREIGN MINISTER KRISHNA: Well, I am conscious of the fact that there is a
degree of skepticism regarding the prevailing sentiment of business and economic
content for our relationship. I have listed some of our pressing concerns in my
speech yesterday. I have also been sensitized to the concerns articulated by
U.S. business. In times of vulnerability and uncertainty for the global
economy, expression of such views are not unusual. However, as I said
yesterday, that the Indian economy will restore investors' confidence and regain
the growth momentum.
I have great confidence in the future of our economic partnership. Our
ties of trade, investment, and innovation are growing in both directions. Our
defense and high-technology trade is ever expanding. Indian plans to invest
more than a trillion dollars on infrastructure development in the coming five
years will provide enormous business opportunities which the U.S. companies can
consider exploiting. Openness and growth in the U.S. economy will also support
stronger economic ties. And we have assured everyone who would be interested in
making investments in India that there is going to be a level playing field and
there will be total transparency.
And with these two parameters being ensured, I am sure that a number of
companies from outside India would be willing to participate in this great
developmental journey that India is setting on. And I am sure that the United
States and India strategic relationship is going to be helpful in this
journey.
QUESTION: Madam Secretary --
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all. Thank you.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State.)
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