Indo-US nuclear deal

US not okay with China-Pak nuke cooperation

manoj — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:26:41 +0530

The United States has already communicated its "position clearly" to Islamabad and Beijing that the proposed cooperation between the two countries to construct two more nuclear reactors in Pakistan should not move forward, the State Department has said.

The Department also said that any new nuclear cooperation between Pakistan and China would require consensus approval by the NSG for an exception to the guidelines.

"Although Pakistan's energy needs are real and increasing, we believe Pakistan's proliferation record would make NSG consensus difficult were China to request an exception," State Department Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Matthew Reynolds said in a letter to Congressman Edward J Markey.

Markey had written to the State Department in October making the argument that the process of Indo-US nuclear deal has sent wrong signals to China and Pakistan.

Reynolds also said that the US has sought and continue to seek clarification from Islamabad and Beijing on this matter.

Following Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's October trip to Beijing, reports emerged that Pakistan and China had agreed to expand bilateral civil nuclear cooperation at the Chasma complex, to include the construction of two additional reactors.

"We have communicated our position clearly to our Chinese and Pakistani interlocutors at multiple levels in Washington, Beijing, and Islamabad, and have made plain our view that proposed cooperation on Chasma III and IV should not move forward. We also have been in contact with other NSG members, a number of whom have expressed similar concern at the recent reports," the State Department said in the letter, which was made public on Thursday.

"We have sought and continue to seek clarification from Islamabad and Beijing on this matter. In our discussions, both Pakistan and China have defended their long and well-known civil nuclear cooperation," the senior State Department official told Markey.

"Both countries have also affirmed that any new China-Pakistan cooperation would be conducted under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and would be consistent with their international commitments," he added.

The US position is that cooperation on the construction of two new reactors, Chasma III and IV, would be inconsistent with the commitments China made at the time of its adherence to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines in 2004.

At that time, China's representatives detailed in a statement China's ongoing nuclear cooperation with Pakistan that would be "grandfathered" upon China's adherence; nothing in that statement permitted construction of reactors beyond Chasma I and II, the senior official maintained.

On the possible financial implications of a nuclear deal with China, the State Department has said that the IMF may be in the final stages of negotiating a new development funding package with Pakistan, an important step in assisting Islamabad's efforts to ward off a serious fiscal crisis.

"Given Pakistan's crucial position in the ongoing global effort to thwart extremism and transnational terrorism, it is important that the international community come together to aid in Pakistan's development and economic security. This includes helping Pakistan address its chronic energy shortages," the official said.

"We have encouraged the Chinese government to play an active role in the "Friends of Pakistan" group , which we believe can become a useful mechanism in coordinating international assistance to Pakistan," he added.

India, US to work closely to strengthen space and nuclear ties

tejas — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:05:14 +0530

India and the United States will work "more closely" to harness space and nuclear technology as the two countries recognise the need for a strategic partnership, which is both "indispensable and inevitable" in the 21st century, says the Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen.

"As we look into the future, we find ourselves engaged in critical issues such as renewable and alternative energy, energy efficiency, increasing food productivity and fighting diseases. Both the nations will be working more closely in harnessing space and nuclear energy for the benefit of our people," Sen said at a function organised by the Historical Electronics Museum of Baltimore to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Indian space scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose.

"New Delhi and Washington recognise that a strategic partnership between the two countries is 'indispensable and inevitable' in the 21st century," he added.

Sen also described the relationship between the two countries as a result of India's shared commitment for democracy, pluralism and individual liberty.

"But, it also derives its momentum from a rich history and a promising future of collaboration in harnessing science and technology for our common good," Sen said.

Acknowledging Bose as the father of modern scientific research in India, Sen said his spectrum of scientific interests was broad and varied, like the electro magnetic radiation, his core area of research.

"Bose is generally acknowledged as the father of modern scientific research in India. Scientists and their work belong to the entire humanity, and by choosing to remember him today, reflects one of the strongest threads in the multi-faceted ties between India and the US the cooperation in the realm of science and technology."

"Through all the turns in the relations, science stood as an enduring symbol of our ties. The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) involved cooperation between Indian and US space agencies to bring education to distant parts of India in the early 1970s an idea that was ahead of its time. Our collaboration has covered medicine, oceanography, atmospheric science and education. Last month, the first Indian lunar mission carried two payloads from NASA," Sen said.

Describing Bose as the man with deep belief and courage with determined thoughts, Sen said "Bose had a well known reluctance to patent his work, reflecting a deep belief that scientific discoveries must have the widest public access and serve to further advance research."

The museum organised a ceremony, attended by about hundred scientists and technologists from across the US. The evening was marked by presentations on different aspects of Sir J C Bose's contribution by eminent speakers, which ended on a musical note.

Global crisis not to affect Indo-US nuclear deal

megha — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:12:08 +0530

The global financial meltdown will not affect the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation as the demand for energy is still increasing, a top US official said on Friday.

"Despite the financial meltdown, the demand for electricity in India is expected to grow...and each country has to decide how to meet that demand and how much of it should come from nuclear energy," Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dale E Klein told reporters in New Delhi at an industry session organised by CII.

He noted that for a lower electricity demand the slowdown in the economy has to be to a great extent. "There are really no estimates on this," he said, pointing out that the financial slowdown had begun only a couple of months back.

In reply to a question, Klein indicated that China, which sources a part of its nuclear needs from American companies, could in the future sell the nuclear technology to Pakistan.

France through Areva and US company Westinghouse are supplying a certain number of nuclear reactors to China which will definitely granted access to IPRs some technology, he said, noting Beijing would also like to market those technologies.

"My guess is that several years from now, I do not know how many years, China would be marketing these reactors worldwide as well as the technologies it got from these companies.

"In a free market enterprise that is how the system works. Even when Areva and Westinghouse signed the contracts, they may have been aware of transfer of some intellectual property rights," Klein said.

Klein said India and the US are continuing the process of putting into place the new Section 123 US-India Agreement for Civil Nuclear Cooperation. India is currently negotiating the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage with the IAEA, he said.

"The US can help India by sharing its technology and expertise in the civil nuclear field, both on the academic as well as the business levels," he said.

The NRC promotes public confidence in the safety and security of nuclear facilities and programmes by being a tough regulator with high standards, Klein said.

"One of the strengths of the commercial nuclear energy sector in the US is the NRC's commitment to scientific objectivity, technical competence and regulatory independence," he added.

He noted that the NRC has a longstanding relationship involving nuclear safety cooperation with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India and have been interacting several times for the past five years.

Klein said the NRC has also been working with eight other nuclear nations to promote cooperation on aligning reactor designs, codes and standards.

"In recent years, NRC has reviewed and certified four new commercial reactor designs...and China has announced plans to build several new reactors based on one of these designs: the Westinghouse AP 1000," he said.

Since NRC had already certified the design, it provided an opportunity for more extensive cooperation between two nations - specifically between the NRC and Chinese nuclear regulatory authorities.

India can buy uranium anytime and stockpile: Canada

sitansu — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:18:04 +0530

Canada, one of the key members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), on Thursday said that India can order for uranium anytime and can even stockpile.

"India can place order for uranium anytime and they can also stockpile it," Gerald W Grandey, President and chief Executive Officer of Cameco Corporation of Canada (largest suppliers of uranium) said.

"We have been waiting for a long time for the Indo-US deal to come through and since IAEA India specific agreement and NSG's waiver are in place, we are keen that India buys uranium from Canada anytime," Grandey, a key person who helped in the Indo-US deal process, said.

"Now it is up to India how soon they want and how much and under what conditions," he said adding "We are ready, the decision lies with New Delhi as the customer is always right."

Grandey said, the contractual agreements are not done overnight, it takes its own time and since they had been waiting for long, they wanted India to do it fast.

Replying a query on stockpiling, Grandey said, "Stockpiling is a normal thing and under the general policy, one can stockpile for one or two years. Since in Asian countries due to scarcity of supply of uranium, they can stockpile even up to three years of inventories just as Japan has done."

India free to make Nuke bomb: Pranab

sitansu — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:41:53 +0530

India on Monday said it was free to make a nuclear bomb should it feel it necessary to do so keeping in view the regional geo-political situation and the country's defence requirements.

Addressing a seminar in Kolkata, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India was free to make a nuclear bomb should the government feel it necessary to do so keeping in view the regional geo-political situation and the country's defence requirements.

"Just as India has the right to make a nuclear bomb, countries who are against it have the right to oppose. Among the 185 countries in the world, there are big powers like the U S and very small countries like Fiji and the Solomon Islands. All are sovereign and have equal rights," he said.

Asserting that the Indo-US nuclear deal would not compromise India's independent foreign policy, Mukherjee said, "Our foreign policy is aimed at extending our national interest in the context of the international situation."

The minister said the deal was aimed at using nuclear science for civilian purposes, he said it was not a military deal India was, however, following the 'no first strike' policy announced by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee after the Pokhran tests in 1998.

"We continue with this policy because it was announced by a Prime Minister and not by a BJP leader," Mukherjee added.

He said that the main purpose of the deal was to obtain the technology for clean energy as it has become necessary to meet the country's growing energy needs in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The deal also enabled India to break the nuclear apartheid, he said, adding, "When I was Defence Minister, I learnt that scientists from the DRDO were not being allowed to attend international seminars on the allegation that they were involved in making the nuclear bomb."

America phobia

Ridiculing the Left for opposing the Indo-U S nuclear deal, Mukherjee said the parties were suffering from 'Americaphobia just like some people have hydrophobia.'

"They have Americaphobia, just like some people have hydrophobia. They may have it but they must understand that the U S is technologically advanced and we need that advanced technology," Mukherjee said.

Pointing out that he had held eight meetings with the Left parties since July 18, 2005, to explain to them the details of the deal, Mukherjee said, "I have never seen so many meetings being held on foreign policy matters in my 39 years in Parliament. There had been only three meetings on GATT."

Refuting the Left parties' allegation that the government had ignored Parliament in clinching the deal, he said every step was discussed both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

"They said the Prime Minister has committed a breach of privilege of the House by entering into the deal. Lok Sabha Speaker (Somnath Chatterjee) ruled this out. So, they became angry with him. But they did not remember that the Speaker had been in Parliament longer than many of them," he said.

Nuke deal: Bush issues first phase of certifications

wali — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:36:51 +0530

In a step closer to the operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, US President George W Bush has formally certified to the Congress that the 123 agreement is consistent with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Bush also made a commitment that his administration will work with NSG members to restrict enrichment/reprocessing technologies.

There are two phases of certification and the first phase contains the two commitments to be done by the President before exchange of the diplomatic note and entry into force of the Indo-US nuclear agreement.

In a Presidential determination of October 20, Bush has sent a memorandum to his Secretary of State on the certifications pursuant to the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non Proliferation Enhancement Act.

"Pursuant to section 102(c) and section 204(a) of the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, I hereby certify the entry into force and implementation of the United States-India Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy pursuant to its terms is consistent with the obligation of the United States under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce India to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices," Bush has said.

"It is the policy of the US to work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, individually and collectively, to agree to further restrict the transfers of equipment and technology related to the enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel," he added.

"You are authorised and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register," the Presidential Memorandum said.

Parliament witnesses stormy scenes, walkouts

tejas — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:35:39 +0530

Parliament on Tuesday witnessed stormy scenes and walkouts by the Left parties and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) over the anti-Christian violence and a CBI threat to a BSP MP on eve of the July 22 trust vote, even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Babubhai Katara was expelled for his involvement in a case of alleged human trafficking.

The attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra created a din in both houses of parliament on the second consecutive day of the session that began on October 17.

The Lok Sabha was twice adjourned during the day. The first adjournment followed chaos as soon as it assembled in the morning as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MPs protested the attacks in Mumbai by activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and DMK MPs protest over the "military assault" on Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was forced to adjourn the House for the second time in the day, till 2 pm, after BSP member Brajesh Pathak alleged that he had been threatened by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official at the behest of the UPA government on the eve of the July 22 trust vote.

Pathak demanded a probe into his allegation, which the speaker refused to entertain. The BSP leader then wanted the matter to be forwarded to the Privileges Committee of parliament.

MPs belonging to the BSP and Communist Party of India-Marxist [CPI(M)] staged a walkout over the house's alleged inability to protect its members' privileges and the anti-Christian violence in Orissa.

When the house re-assembled after lunch, CPI(M) leader Basudev Acharya wanted a discussion the anti-Christian violence in Orissa but Chatterjee refused.

CPI(M) leaders wanted to move two adjournment motions - on the Orissa violence and the alleged negligence of Kerala by the central government. When this was denied, they staged a walkout.

Another issue in the limelight was the alleged complicity of BJP MP Katara in a human trafficking case. The speaker expelled Katara after the house adopted a resolution on the issue.

A Lok Sabha panel had on Monday recommended his removal for "grave misconduct."

Katara represented the Dohad (ST) seat in Gujarat. He was arrested at the Delhi International Airport 2007 for allegedly trying to take a woman and boy by presenting them as his wife and son to Canada with a view to facilitate their illegal migration.

Moving the resolution, the leader of the house, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, asserted that Katara had "committed an act of grave misconduct which has brought disrepute to and maligned the image of the entire fraternity of legislators."

In the Rajya Sabha, the attacks on Hindi-speaking north Indians in Maharashtra continued to exercise MPs.

However, Home Minister Shivraj Patil rejected charges of inaction and asserted that the central government had issued three advisories to the state government on this issue and underlined that such incidents should not be repeated anywhere in the country.

"We have issued three advisories to the state government," Patil said in response to concerns raised during zero hour over the recent wave of attacks. "We have expressed our anguish and anger and I have also personally talked to the chief minister on the issue."

"Anyone from any part of the country can work and live anywhere. No one can stop them. What has happened, should not happen in Maharashtra or anywhere. That is as it should be," he stressed.

Unmoved by Patil's assurances, the opposition staged a walkout, after which Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the house for an hour.

US looks forward to implementation of N-deal

tejas — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:16:36 +0530

The United States has said that it looks forward to the implementation of its civil nuclear deal with India, describing it as "very good for nuclear non-proliferation efforts around the world."

"This agreement with India is, as we've said previously, very good for nuclear non-proliferation efforts around the world," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters on Monday.

"And we're very pleased that this agreement was, you know, finalised. It's now in fruition. We look forward to the implementation," he said.

Commenting on reports that Pakistan has secured China's help to build two new nuclear-power reactors following US refusal to enter into an India like deal with Islamabad, the spokesman said Washington discussed non-proliferation issues with both countries, but would not go into details.

"We obviously discuss non-proliferation issues with both Pakistan and China. But I'm not going to get into the substance of conversations we may have had with either country," he said.

Asked to comment on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's allegation that Pakistan had misused US aid for preparing for war against India, Wood said Washington expected Islamabad to use its assistance for the provided purpose.

"I don't know the specific - I can't answer your question specifically," he said. "But in general, obviously, our support to Pakistan is very clear, and that we expect that any assistance that we provide Pakistan would be used for those things that we are providing them for."

"In many cases, you will have situations where funds are not immediately accounted for. But, you know, we work very closely with Pakistan to make sure that our assistance is spent wisely and for those things that they're supposed to be spent for," the spokesman said.

"And the Pakistanis basically understand that point and work with us and have said to us over and again that they will investigate any misuse of funds or malfeasance that may come about."

In reply to another question about Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher's visit to Pakistan, he said the US official had talked about "counter-terrorism, the situation in the tribal areas, Pakistan's economic situation, and how we can provide support to Pakistan as it goes through these difficult times."

Asked if the US was prepared to try to help Pakistan with direct assistance, Wood said: We obviously will try to see what we can do to help Pakistan get through its financial crisis. But I'm not prepared to lay out specifics of what we may or may not do."

The spokesman declined to say whether the US was willing to support Pakistan regardless of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

"But obviously, the situation there is of great concern, not just to us, but obviously to the Pakistanis. And so we will look at ways we can try to help Pakistan, you know, get through this crisis," he added.

India-US n-trade awaits some 'technical steps'

wali — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:23:34 +0530

The historic India-US civil nuclear deal may be "done", but the US companies eyeing a $150 billion business opportunity cannot start nuclear trade with India before a couple of more "technical steps" are completed.

With the US planning to send a nuclear trade mission to India in December, Washington looks forward to completion of the required "technical steps", Evan Feigenbaum, deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs, told an Indian media round table on Friday.

There are two sets of certifications that President George W Bush has to make before the implementing 123 Agreement comes into force and the two countries can resume nuclear trade banned since India's first "peaceful nuclear explosion" in May 1974.

Feignbaum expected the first set of presidential certifications under the US approval law to come in the next week or 10 days. These would certify: (1) that conclusion and implementation of the agreement by its terms is consistent with US obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); and (2) that it is the policy of the US to work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to further restrict transfers of equipment and technology related to uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.

Following the certifications, India and the US will exchange diplomatic notes pursuant to Article 16(1) of the 123 Agreement, thereby bringing the agreement into force.

However, the nuclear trade can begin only after the second set of certifications under Sec 104 of the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act that Bush signed into law Oct 8.

Under Sec 104 of the approval law, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission can issue licences for transfers of nuclear material and equipment only after the president determines and certifies to Congress that -

(1) The agreement between the government of India and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the application of safeguards to civilian nuclear facilities, as approved by the board of governors of the IAEA on Aug 1, 2008, has entered into force; and

(2) The government of India has filed a declaration of facilities pursuant to paragraph 13 of the safeguards agreement that is not materially inconsistent with the facilities and schedule described in paragraph 14 of the separation plan presented in the national parliament of India on May 11, 2006, taking into account the later initiation of safeguards than was anticipated in the separation plan.

Asked if all the steps would be completed before the US nuclear trade team visited India, Feigenbaum would not put a timeframe on the second set of certifications, but pointed out that nuclear trade cannot begin until India signs the safeguards agreement.

"And that's true for nuclear trade, I believe, with anybody, not just the United States," he added.

However, the signing of an additional protocol with respect to civilian nuclear facilities by India as provided for by the July 18, 2005 joint statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush is not a necessary pre-requisite.

The US would like India to sign the additional protocol, but Sec 104 of the Hyde Act requires the US president to only make a determination in his judgement that "India and the IAEA are making substantial progress toward concluding an Additional Protocol", Feigenbaum said.

Asked how far Bush's signing statement was binding on the next administration, he said the Congress had approved the 123 Agreement, and both Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his Democratic rival Barack Obama supported the nuclear deal, which had wide bipartisan support in both Houses.

He also wouldn't accept the suggestion that Bush's remarks regarding US nuclear fuel supply assurances were at variance with the submissions made by state department officials to the US Congress. Nor would he comment on the controversy regarding whether fuel assurances were "political commitments" or "legally binding".

N-deal unique, could not be replicated with Pak: US

wali — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:40:42 +0530

Terming the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal as "unique to India and not a model to replicate", a senior Bush administration official said the United States is committed to cooperate with Pakistan in enhancing its energy needs but "a civilian nuclear deal with it was not on the table".

"We are absolutely committed to working with Pakistan on its energy needs. And during the strategic partnership meeting we had with the Foreign Minister and others who were here, we talked about Pakistan's energy needs. We talked about how to improve the cooperation," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher said during a Roundtable on Pakistan recently.

The transcript of which was just released by the States Department.

Pakistan's energy problems are also balanced by its energy potential - a lot of that is in coal; a lot of it is
in hydro power, in some of the mountainous areas of the country; a lot of it is in alternate energy wind farms and other things down by the Macram coast, he added.

"So we are going to help Pakistan, work with it on its energy potential which has a uniquely Pakistani character. We really need to reinforce our efforts and Pakistan side want us to do more. We would try to step up our cooperation," he said.

When asked about "nuclear cooperation" with Pakistan, Boucher said the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal was India-specific and should not be seen as some kind of a model that could be replicated elsewhere.

"It is just not on the table. The agreement we have with India is unique to India, not a model for anything else," he said, adding when a kid turns on the light bulb to do his homework he does not really care if the light comes from coal, hydro, nuclear or whatever. He cares that the light bulb goes on.

We are prepared to give India uranium: Kazakhstan

tejas — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:38:23 +0530

Kazakhstan Deputy Foreign Minister Nurian Yermekbayev says his country is prepared to supply uranium to India to fuel its growing nuclear energy requirements.

"We are waiting for a concrete proposal from India and are organising bilateral meetings at the highest level for the uranium supply trade," Yermekbayev told IANS.

He said Kazakhstan supported the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver for nuclear business with India at its meeting in September.

"This was a friendly gesture towards India for its peaceful nuclear aspirations," the minister said, adding that "the strategic and business relations (with India) are excellent and growing".

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet state that gained independence in 1991, has 15 percent of the world's uranium reserves and is tipped to be an important prospective seller for India. Australia, which has the world's largest uranium reserves, is restricted by its policy not to sell nuclear fuel to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The strategically located Central Asian country already supplies uranium to Japan and China.

India and Kazakhstan are discussing dates for a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, during which the uranium trade between the two countries is expected to be finalised.

Yermekbayev said the Kazakhstan president would be visiting India "sometime soon".

"We are for the uranium trade with India as soon as it happens," he said, adding that India and Kazakhstan shared a good strategic partnership and the uranium trade will have a positive impact on the growing cooperation between the two "friends".

Yermekbayev said Astana was keen to further the successful strategic and business cooperation with the "growing Asian power", adding his country was interested in developing ties with India in IT, space research, oil exploration and education sectors.

"You see, India has grown impressively in these sectors and we want its cooperation (to develop the same in Kazakhstan)," he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the business ties with India, the minister said last year trade between the two countries was $195 million "while as it has already crossed $130 million in the first half of this year".

Highly "impressed" with Indian technology parks, the minister said: "We hope more and more Indian companies will invest here to enjoy tax waiver benefits in our 27 special economic zones (SEZs) coming up across the country."

Asked if any Indian company was bidding for the development of Kazakh SEZs, he said: "Yes, but I cannot give you the names."

India to seek nuclear support from Brazil, SA

megha — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:52:23 +0530

Armed with an NSG waiver, India will seek civil nuclear cooperation with Brazil and South Africa at the third IBSA summit on Wednesday that will focus on improving connectivity and enhancing cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, including food and energy security.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe at the day-long summit that brings together economic powerhouses from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Enhancing connectivity among the three countries separated by vast distances will figure prominently in discussions.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday, Nalin Surie, secretary (West) in the external affairs ministry, said the three IBSA countries were hopeful that their three capitals would be air-linked by the end of the year or the next year.

The Civil Aviation Act would have to be amended for the purpose, he said.

A 'Delhi Summit declaration' will also be adopted at the end of the summit. The three countries are also expected to sign seven MoUs, agreements or action plans, Surie said.

Asked if there was any possibility of nuclear energy cooperation among the three countries, he said the opportunities were plenty and there was a possibility of discussing the issue in coming days.

India will take the issue of uranium sale with South Africa when the leaders of the two countries hold bilateral talks after the summit. South Africa and Brazil had supported India's quest for civilian nuclear energy at the second IBSA summit in Johannesburg.

Indian, Brazil and South Africa could also cooperate in the area of defence production since all the three have robust defence industries. The Delhi summit will complete the first cycle of IBSA's annual summits. The second cycle will begin with the fourth summit in Brazil next year.

India not against a US-Pakistan N-deal: Mukherjee

manoj — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:30:14 +0530

India has indicated it would not mind the United States entering a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, saying it believed every country has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

"We will like to encourage civil nuclear cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a press conference on Friday after signing the bilateral 123 Agreement with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"We believe every country has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said when asked about Islamabad's demand for an India-like nuclear deal with the US.

In reply to another question about Pakistan's apprehensions about the nuclear deal, Mukherjee said India was determined to build good relations with Pakistan and was trying to resolve all outstanding issues between them through their composite dialogue process.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's recent statements about India never being a threat to Pakistan and Islamabad having no objection to the India-US nuclear deal were "really encouraging", he said.

"India's commitment to non-proliferation is second to none," said Mukherjee, recalling that on September 5 he had reiterated New Delhi's commitment to a unilateral voluntary moratorium to nuclear tests declared in 1998 after India conducted five-in-a-row tests.

This is an unprecedented deal, says Rice

wali — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:45:37 +0530

Following is the transcript of addresses by US Secretary of State Condoleezzaa Rice and Indian Forign Minister Pranab Mukherjee during the signing of 123 Agreement:-

Condoleezzaa Rice:

The agreement we are about to sign is unprecedented and it demonstrates the vast potential partnerships between India and United States, potential that, frankly, has gone unfulfilled for too many decades of mistrust, and now potential that can be fully realized.

The world's largest democracy and the world's oldest democracy drawn together by our shared values and increasingly by our many shared interests, now stand as equals, closer together than ever before. That we do so now is due to one factor and one factor alone: statesmanship, the courage and democratic statesmanship, both in New Delhi and in Washington.

Prime Minister Singh literally risked his political future for this agreement and then remade his government to gain the support that he needed. And President Bush first saw the potential and the need for transforming the US-India partnership all the way back in 1999 when he was still the governor of Texas. And he's made it one of his highest priorities.

That is what democratic leaders do. They deal with the world as it is, but they lay out a vision of the world as it could be, a vision of a new, better reality, and they lead their nations to expand the scope of the possible.

I know I speak for my friend, Foreign Minister Mukherjee, when I say how honored we are to serve such leaders and to play the roles that we have in helping to shape this diplomatic triumph for both our nations.

Let no one assume, though, that our work is now finished. Indeed, what is most valuable about this agreement is how it unlocks a new and far broader world of potential for our strategic partnership in the 21st century, not just on nuclear cooperation, but on every area of national endeavor.

And so today we look to the future, a shared future in which both our nations together rise to our global responsibilities and our global challenges as partners. Let us use this partnership to shape an international order in which all states can example their sovereignty securely, responsibly, and in peace.

Let us use this partnership to tackle the great global challenges of our time, energy security and climate change, terrorism and violent extremism, transnational crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Let us use this partnership to protect and promote our common values - human rights and human dignity, democracy, liberty, and the rule of law - for people who are diverse in background but join together in spirit and aspirations.

And let us use our partnership to drive a new social justice agenda for the 21st century by promoting good and uncorrupt governance, by expanding free and fair global trade, by advancing health and education, and supporting the millions and millions of people who are striving to lift themselves out of poverty.

India and the United States can do all of this and more together. There is so much that our two great nations will achieve in this new century. And with the conclusion of this civil nuclear agreement, our partnership will be limited only by our will and our imagination.

India and the United States have taken on an extremely difficult challenge. We've met it. We've succeeded together. Now, I believe, there's nothing that we cannot do together.

Pranab Mukherjee:

Today is an important day for the India-US relations, for global energy security, and for our common endeavour to promote sustainable development while addressing environmental challenges.

In signing the agreement between India and the United States of America, for cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, we have brought to fruition three years of extraordinarily effort by both of our governments. This agreement is one more physical sign of the transformed relationship and partnership that our two countries are building together. In doing so, we implement understandings July 2005, March 2006 by President George Bush and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Both India and the United States have now completed all of our internal procedures to be able to sign this path-breaking agreement. We have particularly noted and welcome this strong bipartisan support with which the US Congress endorsed the agreement.

We see this bipartisan support as a vote for stronger India-US cooperation to the mutual benefit of our people. The signing of this agreement has also been preceded by the unanimous approval by the IAEA Board of Governors of the related safeguards settlement and by the consensus decision of the 45-member Nuclear Supplier Group to enable cooperation by its members in peaceful uses of nuclear energy with India.

The significance of the agreement is that it is the first step to civil nuclear cooperation and trade between India and the USA. This is an agreement about civil nuclear cooperation and reflects a careful balance of rights and obligations.

The agreement has been passed by the US Congress without any amendments. Its provisions are now legally binding on both sides, once the agreement enters into force. We look forward to working with the US companies on the commercial steps that will follow to implement this landmark agreement.

It is also the first step to India's cooperation with the rest of the world in civil nuclear energy. By reinforcing and including the nuclear element in our country's energy needs, which is so vital to sustain our growth rate, nuclear power will directly boost industrial growth, rural development, and help us to expand every vital sector of our economy.

It will also enable India to respond with our global partners to the challenges of climate and global warning by strengthening our economic growth and sustainable development.

The wide-ranging initiatives announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the US president in July 2005 and March 2006 have led to a transformed relationship between our two countries.

Our engagement and productive bilateral dialogue includes clean and efficient energy, high technology, defense, space, education, agriculture, science and technology, civil aviation, infrastructure development, and information technology, to name just a few.

These will, I am sure, again gain momentum with the signing of this agreement. We look forward to working with the US in promoting nonproliferation, containing and fighting pandemic climate change, ensuring full security, cooperating in disaster relief management, and other regional and global initiatives.

Indo-US nuke deal: A timeline

wali — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:15:59 +0530

Following is the chronology of events in the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal which was signed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.

July 18, 2005: President Bush and Prime Minister Singh first announce their intention to enter into a nuclear agreement in Washington.

March 1, 2006: Bush visits India for the first time.

March 3, 2006: Bush and Singh issue a joint statement on their growing strategic partnership, emphasising their agreement on civil nuclear cooperation.

July 26, 2006: The US House of Representatives passes the 'Henry J Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006,' which stipulates that Washington will cooperate with New Delhi on nuclear issues and exempt it from signing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

July 28, 2006: The Left parties demand threadbare discussion on the issue in Parliament.

November 16, 2006: The US Senate passes the 'United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation and US Additional Protocol Implementation Act' to "exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 United States exports of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology to India."

December 18, 2006: President Bush signs into law congressional legislation on Indian atomic energy.

July 27, 2007: Negotiations on a bilateral agreement between the United States and India conclude.

August 3, 2007: The text of the 'Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of India concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy' (123 Agreement) is released by both governments.

August 13, 2007: Prime Minister Singh makes a suo motu statement on the deal in Parliament.

August 17, 2007: CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat says the 'honeymoon (with government) may be over but the marriage can go on'.

September 4, 2007: UPA-Left committee to discuss nuclear deal set up.

February 25, 2008: Left parties say the UPA would have to choose between the deal and its government's stability.

June 17, 2008: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee meets Prakash Karat, asks the Left to allow the government to go ahead with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreement.

June 30, 2008: Prime Minister says his government prepared to face Parliament before operationalising the deal.

July 8, 2008: Left parties withdraw support to government.

July 9, 2008: The draft India-specific safeguards accord with the IAEA circulated to IAEA's Board of Governors for approval.

July 10, 2008: Prime Minister calls for a vote of confidence in Parliament.

July 14, 2008: The IAEA says it will meet on August 1 to consider the India-specific safeguards agreement.

July 18, 2008: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon briefs the IAEA Board of Governors and some NSG countries in Vienna on the safeguards agreement.

July 22, 2008: UPA government wins trust vote in the Lok Sabha.

July 24, 2008: India dismisses warning by Pakistan that the deal will accelerate an atomic arms race in the
sub-continent.

July 24, 2008: India launches full blast lobbying among the 45-nation NSG for an exemption for nuclear commerce.

August 1, 2008: IAEA Board of Governors adopts India-specific safeguards agreement unanimously.

August 21-22, 2008: The NSG meet to consider an India waiver ends inconclusively amid reservations by some countries.

September 4-6, 2008: The NSG meets for the second time on the issue after the US comes up with a revised draft and grants waiver to India after marathon parleys.

September 11: President Bush sends the text of the 123 Agreement to the US Congress for final approval.

September 12: US remains silent over the controversy in India triggered by President Bush's assertions that nuclear fuel supply assurances to New Delhi under the deal were only political commitments and not legally binding.

September 13: The State Department issues a fact sheet on the nuclear deal saying the initiative will help meet India's growing energy requirements and strengthen the non-proliferation regime by welcoming New Delhi into globally accepted nonproliferation standards and practices.

September 19: America's nuclear fuel supply assurances to India are a "political commitment" and the government cannot "legally compel" US firms to sell a "given product" to New Delhi, top officials tells Congressional panel.

September 21: US financial crisis diverts attention from N-deal as both the Bush Administration and the Congress are bogged down over efforts to rescue bankrupt American banks. financial crisis in the country.

September 27: House of Representatives approves the Indo-US nuclear deal.

October 1: Senate approves the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

October 4: Secretary of State Rice visits Delhi. India and the US unable to ink the nuclear agreement with New Delhi insisting that it would do so only after President Bush signs it into a law.

October 4: White House announces that President Bush will sign the legislation on the Indo-US nuclear deal into a law on October 8.

October 8: President Bush signs legislation to enact the landmark US-India civilian nuclear agreement, addresses New Delhi's concerns.

October 10: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Rice sign 123 Agreement, operationalising the bilateral nuclear deal.

India, US sign landmark 123 Agreement

wali — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:09:00 +0530

India and the US on Friday operationalised the "path-breaking" bilateral nuclear deal as they signed the 123 Agreement in Washington, with New Delhi insisting that the accord is "legally-binding" on both sides.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice put the final seal on the agreement at an impressive ceremony held in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department, culminating a crisis-ridden process initiated on July 18, 2005 in Washington during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit for talks with US President George W Bush.

"Both India and the US Administration have now completed all our internal procedures to be able to sign this path breaking agreement," Mukherjee said after signing the agreement, paving the way for entry of American companies into the Indian nuclear market after three decades.

"Today is an important day for India-US relations, for global energy security and for our common endeavour to promote sustainable development while addressing environmental challenges," he said at the ceremony held at the State Department.

"We now look forward to working with US companies on the commercial steps that will follow to implement this landmark agreement," Mukherjee said.

The External Affairs Minister described the agreement as the first step to India's cooperation with the rest of the world in civil nuclear field.

By reinforcing and increasing the nuclear element in the country's energy mix, which is vital to sustain India's growth rate, nuclear power will directly boost industrial growth, rural development and help expand every vital sector of the country's economy, he said.

"It enables India to respond with her global partners to the challenges of climate change and global warming by strengthening her own economic growth and sustainable development," he said.

Mukherjee said the wide-ranging initiatives announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush in July 2005 and March 2006 have led to a transformed relationship between the two countries.

Opening a new era

Praising Bush, Rice and the American Congress besides the Indian-American community for making the agreement a reality, the External Affairs Minister said New Delhi looks forward to working with Washington in other fields as well.

He listed these as combating terrorism, containing and fighting pandemics, climate change, ensuring food security, cooperating in disaster relief operations and other regional and global initiatives.

Earlier, Rice said that the 123 Agreement was unprecedented and demonstrates the vast potential for strategic partnership between India and the United States.

She said the nuclear deal is not just nuclear cooperation. "Today we look to the future, a shared future. Let us use the partnership to fight against terrorism, to try a new socialist agenda for the 21st century."

"India and the US can do all these together. Now there is nothing we cannot do," the Secretary of State said.

Prime Minister Singh "literally risked his political future" for the Indo-US nuclear agreement and remade his government again with the support he needed, Rice said, referring to the withdrawal of support to the NDA government by the Left parties.

The formal signing ceremony of the bilateral agreement could not take place during Rice' visit to New Delhi last week due to India's concerns on certain riders in the US Congressional legislation on the nuclear deal, is being held after US President George W Bush assured New Delhi that the new law makes no changes on fuel supply assurance commitments or the terms of the 123 agreement.

India's Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs also gave the go ahead to Mukherjee to sign the agreement after approving the pact initiated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bush in 2005.

The signing ceremony was attended among others by India's Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen and senior State Department officials.

Also Read:
India not against 'US-Pak N-deal'
Text of the adderesses by Rice and Mukherjee
Indo-US nuke deal: A timeline

India, US all set to seal landmark nuclear deal

tejas — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:35:03 +0530

With India's concerns over India-US civil nuclear deal met, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are all set to sign the bilateral 123 pact to seal the landmark accord.

Mukherjee and Rice will ink the "Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy" in the Benjamin Franklin Room of State Department at 4 pm on Friday (1.30 am Saturday IST).

The two had failed to sign the agreement to resume nuclear commerce after 34 years, when Rice visited New Delhi last weekend with India concerned over a couple of riders relating to fuel supply assurances and reprocessing in the legislation approving the deal.

The landmark accord envisioned by US President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18, 2005 will end the ban on nuclear trade since India conducted a "Peaceful Nuclear Explosion" in May 1974.

Mukherjee is visiting US to sign the bilateral agreement just two days after Bush signed a historic enabling law with an assertion that it does not change US commitments on nuclear fuel assurances and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.

"By undertaking new cooperation on civil nuclear energy, India will be able to count on a reliable fuel supply for its civilian reactors," said Bush as he signed into law the Congressional approval of what he called a "big deal" at a White House ceremony Wednesday.

An accompanying presidential statement made it more explicit.

"The legislation does not change the terms of the 123 Agreement as I submitted it to the Congress," said Bush. It simply enabled him to bring the bilateral agreement "into force and to accept on behalf of the United States the obligations contained in the agreement".

"The agreement grants India advance consent to reprocessing which will be brought into effect upon conclusion of arrangements and procedures for a dedicated reprocessing facility under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards," he said.

"In addition, the legislation does not change the fuel assurance commitments that the US government has made to the government of India, as recorded in the 123 Agreement," Bush maintained.

India's ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, told reporters after the signing that the presidential statement with assurances on fuel supplies and 'advanced consent' for reprocessing "absolutely" met India's concerns.

"I think the (Bush) statement speaks for itself. All concerns that have been expressed who fear the implications of certain elements of the legislation. All those have been met," he said.

"I am confident because we negotiated the 123 Agreement with great care and I was confident right from the beginning that many of the concerns that had been expressed would be met like they have been in the past," Sen said.

Asked about apprehensions that Washington could ask others in the Nuclear Suppliers Group to cut off fuel in the event of an atomic test by India, he said: "I think we can keep on having questions and discussions repeatedly."

"I feel we should be a little more confident of ourselves. We should have a little bit more self-esteem and we should not always require these reassurances. We should grow up. I feel this very strongly," Sen said.

Indian Americans applaud Bush signing N-deal into law

sitansu — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:00:55 +0530

Indian American community leaders and businessmen have applauded President George W Bush for signing a historic law on the India-US civil nuclear deal on Wednesday that will help India meet its energy demands while giving the US access to a growing market for nuclear technology and material.

Indian Americans constituted more than half of the 250 prominent people present at the White House reception that followed the bill signing by the president.

Sant Chatwal, hotelier and chairman of Indian Americans for Democrats group, said that he grabbed the president's attention by conveying to him compliments from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Bush replied, "Your PM is a good friend, I congratulate him for the deal."

Chatwal said Manmohan Singh told him that one night a month ago, Bush telephoned many heads of state at 3 am to convince them of the need to grant India the waiver on nuclear trade by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Thomas Abraham, chairman of GOPIO (Global Organisation of Persons of Indian Origin), who was present at the reception in the State Room of the White House, said Bush received applause a dozen times during his address of about 12 minutes.

Abraham said at the historic event, Bush recognised that a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes to see the deal through.

"He particularly complimented the Indian American community's contribution in this regard," Abraham added.

"The nuclear deal takes India and the US to a whole new level of cooperation," Abraham maintained.

Kishore (Kevin) Kaul, founder of Friends of the South Asian American Communities (FOSAAC) and chair of US Asia Business Forum, said, "The nuclear deal is a landmark in US-India relations and great things will follow from the world's two largest democracies coming together."

Also present at the reception were captains of industry, lawmakers, diplomats and officials who played a major role in getting the deal through Congress in less than a month after the NSG waiver.

Witnessing the signing ceremony in the East Room of White House were Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen and US Ambassador to India David Mulford.

With the enabling law in place, Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee are expected to formally ink the 123 Agreement in Washington on Friday to give effect to the landmark accord, envisioned by Bush and Manmohan Singh over three years ago.

CCPA approves nuke agreement for signing

sitansu — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:35:55 +0530

On the eve of India and the US signing the 123 agreement, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) on Thursday approved the landmark accord to implement the civil nuclear deal that will be inked by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a meeting of his senior Cabinet colleagues discussed the final shape of the agreement and the accompanying statement by President George W Bush after which the go ahead was given for signing the agreement on Friday. Bush had signed into law the enabling Congressional legislation that approved the agreement.

The over two-hour long meeting, which was attended by Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Railways minister Lalu Yadav is understood to have analysed Bush's statement threadbare on whether it met India's concerns, particularly over fuel supply assurances.

Addressing New Delhi's concerns on certain provisions in the US Congressional legislation on the nuclear deal, Bush assured India that the new law makes no changes on fuel supply assurance commitments or the terms of the 123 agreement.

Signing the bill into law at a ceremony in the White House, Bush said, “The bill approves the 123 agreement I submitted to Congress and establishes the legal framework for that agreement to come into effect."

At the same time, he maintained that the agreement with India was consistent with the US Atomic Energy Act and other elements of the US law.

Concerns had arisen in India over fuel assurances after statements by officials in the US that these guarantees were merely political in nature and not legally binding.

N-deal assurances lack legal backing, says BJP

wali — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:45:56 +0530

Terming US President George W Bush's comments after signing into law the Indo-US nuclear deal legislation as mere "personal assurances" with "no legal standing," the main opposition BJP on Thursday said that history would prove that the agreement was a "defeat" for the country.

"Even Bush is silent in his speech about the contentious issue of nuclear testing and the government has clearly failed in ensuring the sovereignty and nuclear independence for the country," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said reacting to the US leader's assent to the legislation.

"The last minute face saving comments" by the US President, Rudy said, are nearly "personal assurances and have no legal standing or any statutory back up".

"Only history would prove that its a defeat for the country earned by the UPA at the cost of the common man," he said.

Rudy claimed that BJP's stand was today vindicated and asserted that its opposition to the deal in its present form would continue unabated.

Bush signed the legislation into law to implement the historic Indo-US civil nuclear deal and assured that there were "no changes" in fuel supply commitments as provided in the 123 Agreement and that India has also been granted "advanced consent" for reprocessing.

Nuke deal will entail 'huge costs' for India: Left

wali — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:22:01 +0530

Left parties on Thursday slammed the Indo-US nuclear deal saying it would entail "huge costs" for India and was a result of "mutual desperation" on both sides.

The statement made by President George W Bush after signing the deal was "nothing but a device" to allay genuine fears over the deal, CPI(M) General secretary Prakash Karat told PTI.

Maintaining that there was a "wide gap" between the Indian and the US governments' understanding of the deal, CPI leader D Raja said while Washington considered 123 agreement to be governed by the Hyde Act, the Atomic Energy Act and other American laws, New Delhi was of the view that only 123 agreement was binding.

The signing of the deal can be seen as a result of "mutual desperation," he said.

"While Manmohan Singh (PM) wants to show some achievement at the fag end of his tenure, the Americans are desperate to help the military-industrial establishment at a time when US is passing through a mega financial crisis," Raja said.

Maintaining that American nuclear companies are waiting for the massive Indian market to open up for their revival, he said "they see the Congress-led UPA government helping them in this.

"Nobody knows what the economic cost of this deal will be for India. It will simply be huge. It will have very serious consequences for India and its future," Raja said.

He also said that it is finally the prerogative of the US to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies for India. "We will have to see how far the Indian government has yielded to the US," he added.

Mukherjee, Rice to ink N-deal on Friday

wali — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:28:45 +0530

With the US enabling law on the India-US civil nuclear deal in place, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will ink the bilateral 123 agreement in Washington on Friday.

The historic agreement opening nuclear trade between the two countries that was over three years in the making would be signed in the Benjamin Franklin Room of State Department at 4 pm on Friday (1:30 am IST Saturday), an official spokesman announced.

"This follows on the President's signature today of implementing legislation in the United States," said department spokesman Sean McCormack hours before President George Bush signed the enabling law Wednesday. "I know it has been much anticipated. It certainly has been here."

Asked if he could explain why the 123 agreement could not be signed when Rice was in New Delhi last weekend, he stuck to his earlier refrain that the bill "had to be enrolled" describing it as "a necessary step that had to be taken before we felt we were able to move forward with the signature of the US-India agreement."

"That didn't take place in the timeframe that we were in India. And the Friday date is really one that is mutually convenient for Foreign Minister Mukherjee, who is flying all the way to the United States, and we appreciate that, and for Secretary Rice as well," McCormack said.

Asked to comment on Indian media reports that New Delhi was seeking assurances regarding fuel supplies and reprocessing of spent fuel before signing the agreement, the official insisted that "from our perspective, it centred solely on this technicality of our needing to move through some bureaucratic steps."

At the White House, Press Secretary Dana Perino said before the White House ceremony Bush "looks forward to signing this bill into law and continuing to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership that he's worked very hard on since becoming President."

"This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and create jobs, assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in a responsible manner, and also help us deal with environmental challenges from electricity needs," she added.

N-deal passage a milestone achievement, says Bush

wali — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:17:11 +0530

Soon after signing into law the legislation on the historic Indo-US nuclear deal, US president George W Bush has described passage of the Bill by Congress as a "milestone" in achieving the vision set by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and himself three years ago.

"I am pleased to sign into law the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, which approves the US-India 123 Agreement.

"The passage of this legislation by the Congress marks another major milestone in achieving the vision that Prime Minister Singh and I set forth on July 18, 2005, to transform the relationship between our countries," Bush said in a statement released by the White House after he signed the legislation H R 7081 into law.

"This Act will strengthen the relationship between the US and India and deliver valuable benefits to both nations. The legislation does not change the terms of the 123 Agreement as I submitted it to the Congress. That Agreement is consistent with the Atomic Energy Act and other elements of US law. This legislation is important as it enables me to bring the 123 Agreement into force and to accept on behalf of the United
States the obligations contained in the Agreement," he added.

"The Agreement grants India advance consent to reprocessing which will be brought into effect upon conclusion of arrangements and procedures for a dedicated reprocessing facility under IAEA safeguards," Bush said.

"In addition, the legislation does not change the fuel assurance commitments that the US Government has made to the Indian government as recorded in the 123 Agreement," he added.

"The passage of this legislation reflects the common view of my Administration and the Congress as to the value of nuclear cooperation and is in the interest of US and India," Bush said.

Bush signs enabling law on N-deal

megha — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:05:38 +0530

US President George W Bush signed the enabling law on the India-US civil nuclear deal on Wednesday night, making clear there would be no change in the implementing 123 agreement including the US commitment on nuclear fuel assurances.

“This is a big deal,” said Bush as he signed the “H R 7081, the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act” at 2:34 pm on Wednesday (00:04 a.m. Thursday India time) in the East Room of the White House, which has witnessed many a historic event.

Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Indian Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen were among a select gathering witnessing the president sign the historic law that would allow resumption of nuclear commerce between the two countries after three decades.

Also attending were prominent members of the Indian-American community, captains of industry, lawmakers, diplomats and officials, who played a major role in getting the deal through the Congress in less than a month after the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) gave India a waiver on nuclear trade.

With the enabling law in place, Rice and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee are expected to formally ink the 123 agreement in a couple of days to give effect to the landmark accord, envisioned by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18, 2005.

No official announcement has been made in either country, but a highly placed official source told IANS in New Delhi that “The 123 pact will be signed on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.”

Bush set to sign N-deal law today

wali — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:41:50 +0530

With US President George W Bush set to sign a bill on Wednesday to ratify the India-US civil nuclear deal, Washington expressed confidence that the implementing 123 accord would also be inked "at some point".

"Let me just say the agreement will be signed at some point by both sides. I just can't tell you when at this point, but the agreement will be signed," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters on Tuesday.

Asked if India had conveyed to the US that it would sign the nuclear deal once Bush has signed it, he said: "We're trying to work out, you know, a date whereby a signing can take place. But again, I would just say to you the agreement is done and the agreement will be signed."

Pressed to comment on Indian press reports that New Delhi had refused to sign the accord until they could see how Bush addresses some of their concerns, Wood stuck to his refrain.

"I would just say to you that the agreement will be signed. The deal is done and we just need to find a date for the signing," he said.

"I'm not going to get into conversations that we've had with regard to, you know, the context, the nature or the substance of the agreement because we haven't really done that.

"But I can assure you that the agreement will be signed, as I said. You know, we're just trying to find an appropriate date," he repeated.

Asked if he felt confident that the bilateral 123 Agreement will be signed by both sides, Wood said: "I do."

The White House has invited lawmakers, prominent members of the Indian American community, leading businessmen of the two countries besides officials and diplomats, who all played a major role in pushing the deal, for the signing ceremony in the East Room at 2.50 pm on Wednesday.

Although officials are unwilling to say so, Bush is also expected to take care of a couple of Indian concerns over the legislation that apparently came in the way of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee signing the 123 Agreement during her visit to New Delhi over the weekend.

Bush would likely seek to allay India's concerns regarding nuclear fuel assurances, technology transfers for uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel with a signing statement as he did over certain "extraneous and prescriptive" provisions in the Hyde Act in December 2006.

US presidents have often used such signing statements to interpret a law the way they choose without taking the extreme step of rejecting a bill outright with a veto.

Usually these are quietly listed in the Federal Register recording all executive actions without a public announcement.

After signing into law the legislation passed by Congress approving the 123 Agreement, Bush is also required to certify that the accord is consistent with US obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He also has to certify that it is the policy of the US to work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to further restrict transfers of equipment and technology related to uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.

Following the certifications, India and the US will exchange diplomatic notes pursuant to Article 16(1) of the 123 Agreement, thereby bringing the agreement into force - only then the deal envisioned by Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18, 2005 would be finally done.