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“THE GROWING U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS: STRONG AND BROAD-BASED BILATERAL RELATIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1851-E1852 on Oct. 11, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE GROWING U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS: STRONG AND BROAD-BASED BILATERAL
RELATIONS
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HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 10, 2002
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, relations between the United States and India continue to grow and prosper in the economic, political, diplomatic, democracy promotion, scientific, and security cooperation areas. During the past year, high-level agreements and substantive exchanges have brought the world's two largest democracies ever closer together; particularly with regard to security cooperation and a partnership in international counter-terrorism efforts.
The September 11 terrorist attacks on America have brought our two countries even closer together--as democracies which have been the victims of terrorism and which stand resolved to combat this scourge on a global basis. Following our President's clear statement that the nations of the world must stand ``with us or with the terrorists,'' India answered the call. India immediately and unhesitatingly expressed full solidarity with our Nation and the American people. The welcome presence of Prime Minister Vajpayee last month at our one-year commemoration ceremony in New York City was but one highly symbolic indication of this sense of solidarity.
``The National Security Strategy of the United States,'' transmitted by President Bush to Congress last month as a declaration of the Administration's policy, calls India ``A growing world power with which we have common strategic interest. The Administration sees India's potential to become one of the great democratic powers of the twenty-
first century and accordingly has worked hard to transform our relationship.''
Further quoting from the Administration's report:
The United States has undertaken a transformation in its bilateral relationship with India based on a conviction that U.S. interests require a strong relationship with India. We are the two largest democracies, committed to political freedom protected by representative government. India is moving toward greater economic freedom as well. We have a common interest in the free flow of commerce, including through the vital sea-lanes of the Indian Ocean. Finally, we share an interest in fighting terrorism and in creating a strategically stable Asia.
The pace of our bilateral engagement since President Bush assumed the Presidency has been unprecedented. At their November 2001 meeting, President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee issued a joint statement outlining the broad scope of our bilateral relations. The Prime Minister and the President affirmed their commitment to complete the process of qualitatively transforming bilateral relations in pursuit of their many common goals in Asia and beyond.
The two leaders agreed that the lifting of economic, military and technology restrictions on India provides a further impetus to our bilateral relations. They welcomed the resumption of the bilateral Defense Policy Group as a step toward increasing exchanges and technical cooperation in the defense and security areas. The two leaders also agreed to pursue policies to enhance the mutually beneficial--and growing--economic and commercial ties between our nations. They also agreed to expand the Bilateral Economic Dialogue and to broaden dialogue and cooperation in the areas of energy, the environment, health, space, export controls, science and technology, including biotechnology and information technology. Indeed, the United States is India's largest trading partner and premier export destination. In particular, the President and the Prime Minister agreed that the two sides should discuss ways to stimulate bilateral high technology commerce, and agreed that our two countries should begin a dialogue to evaluate the processes for the transfer of dual-use and military items, with a view towards greater transparency and efficiency.
Moreover, India and the United States have a mutual interest in space exploration, and both countries have active space programs. The two leaders began an ongoing process to initiate discussions on Civil Space cooperation. In addition, private sector contacts, as well as meetings at the academic, cultural, NGO and other levels, continue to expand.
Partners in Building Democracy
The U.S. and India, the world's two largest democracies, are partners in the ongoing effort to build a more democratic world. In this regard, India is leading by example, having stuck to the democratic path in the more than 50 years since it gained independence. During September and October, despite the ongoing threat of terrorism originating from outside India's borders, India is holding elections for the state assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. On September 18, after the first of four rounds of voting in the elections, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said:
We do welcome the Indian Government's commitment to holding an election that's free and fair and perceived as such internationally and within India. We have diplomats, and others do as well, up in the area observing the elections. Their findings, combined with the coverage by India's media and the international press will form the basis for an assessment of the election overall, after it's over. And I'm sure it'll be widely reported. And against these kind of sporadic violence and the threats that were issued, we actually applaud the courage of the voters who have chosen to participate in the first round of voting.
U.S.-India Cooperation on Security, Defense and Counter terrorism
Issues
In particular, the U.S. and India have moved relations to a new level in terms of security and defense matters, and cooperation on counter terrorism, reflecting the recognition on both sides of the need to build stability and security in Asia and beyond.
The U.S.-India Security and Non-Proliferation Dialogue held in New Delhi on September 23-24 was but the latest example of this cooperation, as India continues to make substantial progress in meeting non-proliferation goals. India is also committed to vigorously enforcing stringent export controls on its locally developed know-how and technologies, an issue that the two sides will continue to pursue.
The U.S. and India have held joint military exercises, and others are planned. Following a December 2001, meeting of the U.S.-India Defense Planning Group and the Executive Steering Groups of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the U.S. and India agreed that each of its Navies would jointly patrol the Strait of Malacca to ensure the uninterrupted flow of vital oil supplies. The U.S. and India will hold their first joint air exercise over Indian airspace in almost four decades in October. In Washington, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Air Force Command, General William Begert, described the joint exercise as ``a breakthrough.'' It has also been announced that Indian Army and Air Force personnel will participate with U.S. forces in exercises in Alaska later this year.
India and the United States have forged an ever-closer partnership in the struggle against international terrorism--a partnership that had actually begun before last September 11. The U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Counter terrorism was established in January 2000. The fifth meeting of the Joint Working Group was held in July in Washington. The past year has been a watershed for the two democracies in confronting the challenge of terrorism. During this period, India and the United States have accomplished much in their counter-terrorism cooperation, including:
Broadening their exchange of information and assessments on the international and regional terrorist situation.
Strengthening intelligence and investigative cooperation.
Signing a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
Launching a bilateral Cyber Security Forum, with a wide-ranging program of action to address cyber terrorism and information security.
Introducing military-to-military cooperation on counter terrorism to supplement the initiatives of the India-U.S. Defense Policy Group in this area.
Working together closely on multilateral initiatives on terrorism, including the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1373.
Initiating dialogue and cooperation in homeland/internal security, terrorist financing, forensic science transportation security and border management.
Taking concrete steps to detect and counter the activities of individual terrorists and organizations of concern to both of our countries.
Accordingly, I urge the Administration and my colleagues to continue to strengthen the U.S.-India ties and to turn the blueprint outlined at the joint meeting between President Bush and Indian Prime Minister last year, into a sturdy and enduring structure that will benefit the people of both of our great nations.
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