VARIOUS: Bush administration praises India for civil nuclear deal while preparing for battle with U.S. Congress

Record ID: 1376642

  • Title: VARIOUS: Bush administration praises India for civil nuclear deal while preparing for battle with U.S. Congress
  • Date: 7th March 2006
  • Summary: (AM) WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES (MARCH 6, 2006) (REUTERS) WIDE OF BURNS AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) NICHOLAS BURNS, U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, SAYING, "India has agreed to place fourteen of its 22 nuclear reactors under international safeguards. That represents roughly 66 percent of India's current capacity. India has also agreed that al
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2006 16:15
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAP2G2U3B3K5AJI47ZOBKHXD1A
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns says the civil nuclear deal reached with India this week shows the growing relationship India and the United States and illustrates India's growth into a responsible nuclear power. The landmark pact reached on Thursday (March 2) is now the centerpiece of President George W. Bush's first visit to the world's largest democracy and marks a major breakthrough for New Delhi, long treated as a nuclear pariah by the world, as it allows it to access American atomic technology and fuel to meet its soaring energy needs -- provided the U.S. Congress gives its approval.
    It is also expected to allow atomic trade between India and other nuclear powers if the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an informal group of nations that controls global nuclear transactions, follows suit by lifting curbs on New Delhi.
    Burns told critics that the deal shows the world and particularly south Asia that the U.S. will often speak together on issues as their economic ties grow.
    "In essence what we are trying to do in government is match the explosion, in a positive sense, of U.S. India private sector ties over the past decade. If you look at the fact that American trade has tripled to India and our U.S. trade representative Rob Portman who was with President Bush on the visit believes that it will may again in the next several years. We now have a degree of cooperation, business cooperation, trade, investment, in every possible sphere that we have never had with India," Burns told media gathered in Washington, D.C.
    Critics of the deal say it shows a double standard, sanctioning nuclear technology in India, while the world community is asking Iran for accountability. Burns disagrees pointing to India as a responsible partner in non-proliferation.
    "The fact that India was the first major country in the formerly nonaligned movement to come out in opposition to Iran, was highly significant and I think was a factor in allowing us to put together this larger coalition against Iran that includes China, Russia and Brazil, as well as India," he said.
    The next hurdle for the Bush Administration is clearing the deal through the U.S. Congress. There it faces opposition from members who argue that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But Burns said he expected "broad-scale international support" for the deal.
    "We will advise the Congress that it is our very clear judgment that this is a good deal for the United States as well as a good deal for India. It is a step forward for proliferation," he said.
    In the deal, India has agreed to put 14 of its 22 nuclear power facilities under international safeguards, as well as all future facilities, leaving them open to international inspections.
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