[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             SIDDHARTHA S. RAY COMPLETES 2 SUCCESSFUL YEARS

                                 ______


                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 1994

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I call to the attention of our colleagues 
an article regarding Indian Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar Ray appearing 
in the September 23d edition of India West, one of the most influential 
Indian-American weekly newspapers in the United States. The article, 
written by India West's Washington correspondent, Vasantha Arora, 
reflects on Ambassador Ray's recently completed 2-year term as Indian 
Ambassador to the United States. As the article correctly notes, during 
the past 2 years Indo-U.S. relations have improved dramatically. 
Economic activity between India and the United States is up sharply. 
Diplomatic tensions have declined. Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha 
Rao enjoyed a successful visit to Washington earlier this year, 
including being honored as the first foreign political leader invited 
to address the Congress during the Clinton administration. Energy 
Secretary Hazel O'Leary has just returned from a successful trade 
mission to India. Secretaries Bentsen, Brown and Perry all plan to make 
similar missions in the next 5 months. Divisive amendments to curtail 
foreign aid to India have been absent from the House and Senate floors.
  Mr. Speaker, each of these successes is a tribute to Ambassador Ray's 
work here in Washington. Ambassador Ray's leadership has been duly 
recognized by Prime Minister Rao, who has shown excellent judgment in 
asking Ambassador Ray to continue his representation of India in the 
United States for a second 2-year term. Fortunately for the United 
States and for India, Ambassador Ray has accepted this offer and will 
continue his program to bring the Indo-U.S. relationship to an even 
higher plateau.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Siddhartha Shankar Ray on a job well done. India's many friends in the 
Congress look forward to continuing to work with him during the next 2 
years. I ask unanimous consent to have the India West article included 
in the Record and urge my colleagues to read the article closely.

                   [From India West, Sept. 23, 1994]

             Ray Ensures India, U.S. Ties are on Even Keel

                          (Bay Vasantha Arora)

       Washington--Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar Ray describes his 
     first ever assignment as a diplomat in Washington a 
     challenging one--``in fact, as challenging as being the 
     governor of Punjab during the height of terrorism or chief 
     minister of West Bengal when Naxalism ruled the roost.''
       During his long an distinguished innings of public life, 
     the veteran Congress leader has held the office of the 
     governor and the chief minister of these two troubled states 
     respectively under trying circumstances.
       In an informal chat with India-West here Sept. 2, he said 
     he has to deal with a variety of issues ranging from nuclear 
     nonproliferation to human rights, as well as anti-India 
     propaganda by Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan.
       The most daunting task of a diplomat is to ensure that New 
     Delhi's relations with Washington are kept on an even keel, 
     if not sailing smoothly.
       In this Ray could certainly pat himself on the back as the 
     Clinton administration, which came to power just nine months 
     earlier than his own posting here, has taken India more 
     seriously than any other U.S. administration in recent times.
       According to Ray, Indo-U.S. relations have changed for the 
     better not only qualitatively but also quantitatively. Not 
     that ``we do not have problems. We do have areas of 
     disagreements but there is a desire to have them settled 
     through a democratic dialogue. We have to learn to agree to 
     disagree.''
       The Clinton administration wants to improve not only its 
     economic ties, but also military cooperation with India. It 
     is keen to share information, energy and other hi-technology 
     provided India shakes off some of age-old prejudices.
       Unless the two countries understood each others' problems, 
     Ray pointed out, they could not have the kind of partnership 
     that President Clinton and Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao 
     had visualized in their talks in May last.
       In fact, Ray said the joint statement that was issued after 
     the visit of Rao was testament to the slow cementing of 
     bilateral ties between India and the U.S. There have been 
     considerable narrowing down of differences and it could 
     easily be said that it is now passing through a stage of 
     stability.
       Here Ray mentioned about how the sanctions against the 
     Indian Space Research Organization have been lifted and the 
     U.S. has signed an agreement for sharing data provided by 
     Indian satellites at the EOSAT Norman facility in Oklahoma, 
     marking a new era in Indo-U.S. space technology.


                                removed

       India, Ray said, has also been removed from the watch list 
     of the Special 301 trade law.
       Regarding security concerns, Ray said the U.S. is today 
     much more aware of India's security concerns than it had ever 
     seen before. In this context, he referred to Defense 
     Secretary William Perry's forthcoming visit to India which 
     could lead to greater defense cooperation between the two 
     countries.
       Asked about Kashmir, Ray said the U.S. has all along been 
     consistent in its stand regarding Jammu and Kashmir state. It 
     has always encouraged bilateral talks between India and 
     Pakistan to solve the issue. It no more talks about third 
     party intervention--which India does not want.
       On the nuclear issue, Ray said when he first came here 
     there as a lot of talk about India signing the Non-
     Proliferation Treaty. But no one talks about it now as NPT 
     itself is being reviewed in about a week at Geneva. A kind of 
     ``wait and watch situation'' prevails now in this regard, he 
     added.
       About the economic sphere, Ray said Indo-U.S. ties have 
     been ``better than expectations.'' The total U.S. investment 
     in India in 1933 was larger than the total cumulative 
     investments of U.S. since 1947, Ray said, adding that in 1994 
     the total investment currently stood at $5.3 billion.
       Ray also spoke about better access on Capitol Hill, in the 
     administration and good connections with the Pentagon. The 
     White House and the Commerce Department.
       In this connection he mentioned the India Caucus, which now 
     has 40 supporters and is the second largest group after the 
     Black Caucus. The India Interest Group, he says, has done a 
     ``tremendous job for India.'' The lobbyist firm has made 
     communication easier with the administration and the 
     Congress.
       So it is not surprising that Ray has been asked to continue 
     as envoy in Washington for another term by the Narasimha Rao 
     government. It is a foregone conclusion though not yet 
     officially announced.


                              shaky wicket

       However, it is common knowledge here that Ray did begin on 
     a shaky wicket a little less than two years ago. Within two 
     months of his coming here the Babri Masjid was pulled down in 
     Ayodhya and the forces supporting the shameful act in the 
     U.S. lost no time in condemning Ray for voicing his secular 
     views on the incident.
       A series of demonstrations were organized against him at 
     every opportunity. His detractors, which included anti-India 
     elements, worked overtime to ensure that he did not feel 
     comfortable in his office.
       The reason was not merely Ray's political background but 
     also personal. Some in the media and in the Indian Embassy 
     itself did not take kindly to Ray because they have been led 
     by supporters of his predecessor Abid Hussain to believe that 
     the former bureaucrat Hussain would get an extension.
       Some even went to the extent of quoting unnamed officials 
     in the State Department asking New Delhi to give an extension 
     to Hussain, little knowing that the State Department does not 
     interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation.
       It is relevant to point out here that it was during 
     Hussain's tenure that the United States slapped sanctions 
     against India for trying to get cryogenic engine technology 
     from Russia. The second big blow for India also came during 
     Hussain's tenure. New Delhi was placed on the Special 301 
     watch list and the Damocles' sword of trade sanctions was 
     kept dangling over India throughout Hussain's term.
       The same pattern of criticism, adverse publicity and a 
     hostile press dogged Ray when he decided to hire a 
     professional lobbyist and a public relations firm to look 
     after India's image in the United States.
       Credit here should go entirely to Ray who went about hiring 
     the lobbyist against a steady tide of criticism. The move has 
     paid rich dividends.
       Ray says that ``if I have to do any work for India, it 
     should be first class work.'' Therein lies his strength as 
     well as his success.

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