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India welcomes US bill on Indo-US nuclear deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Dec 9, IRNA
India-US-Nuke deal
India has welcomed the outcome of the conference in the US Congress that reconciled the waiver bills earlier passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, which would enable resumption of civilian nuclear energy cooperation between India and the USA.

"We appreciate the personal effort and commitment demonstrated by US President George W Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in taking this initiative forward. We are also encouraged by the broad bipartisan support of the Congressional leadership for stronger Indo-US ties," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna here Friday.

The government also notes that the draft legislation contains certain extraneous and prescriptive provisions.

As the prime minister stated in parliament, "no legislation enacted in a foreign country can take away from us the sovereign right to conduct foreign policy determined solely by our national interests," he said.

"The legislation that would be passed is an amendment to a law of the United States. Our obligations and commitments will be those that we undertake in the bilateral 123 Agreement. We expect that to adhere to the 18 July Joint Statement and the Separation Plan. We look forward to working with the US Administration for an early conclusion of a satisfactory Agreement," he said.

The external affairs minister will be making a statement in parliament soon, he added.

The bill awaits the favorable votes of the House and the Senate.

"The US Administration has assured us that once passed this legislation would enable it to fulfill all its commitments and obligations under the 18 July Joint Statement and the Separation Plan."

Sarna further said that "enactment of the waiver has wider implications for India's access to international cooperation in civilian nuclear energy and is, therefore, of historic significance."

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