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Civil Nuclear Cooperation Key to Strong India Relationship

10 July 2006

Rice praises American India community, potential of U.S.-India nuclear effort

By Lea Terhune
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Addressing two influential Asian-American advocacy groups, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice lauded the contributions of Indian Americans, saying, “They are adding not only to the wealth of our nation, but to the character of our country.”

Attendees at the July 10 inaugural gathering of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association in Washington, Rice spoke of the importance of U.S.- India relations and efforts of the Bush administration to strengthen ties. “India can be a pillar of stability in a rapidly changing Asia, and a strategic partner of the United States,” she said.

Rice said “India and the United States are now closer than ever,” and the partnership between the two countries “has the power to transform the world.” The key to realizing that potential, she said, is the U.S.- India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative proposed by President Bush. (See related article.)

Outlining the benefits of closer nuclear cooperation, Rice said this initiative will enhance India’s energy sector, free India from dependency on nations for oil, contribute to a cleaner environment, provide jobs for both Indians and Americans and strengthen global stability. Such cooperation, she said, will “elevate our partnership to a new strategic level.”

Rice reiterated that the United States “unequivocally supports the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, the core of which is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.” India has been isolated by not being a signatory of the treaty, she said. “Rather, the goal of our initiative is to include India, for the first time ever, in the global nonproliferation regime,” by requiring India to submit to the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency. She added that Britain, France and Russia also support this initiative.

U.S. congressional approval is needed for the nuclear initiative with India. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee recently approved versions of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, but floor consideration has not yet occurred.

Rice expressed optimism in the future fulfillment of the agreement, and for a stronger partnership between the United States and India. “India and the United States can accomplish great things together in this century,” she said, “We can define this new era not as the American century, or the Indian century, but the freedom century.”

For more information on U.S. policies, see U.S.-India: Strengthening a Global Partnership.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)