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U.S `looking forward' to work with new government

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 13. The U.S. State Department has formally congratulated the Congress on its success in the election and said the United States, having a ``very strong bilateral relationship with India,'' is looking forward to working with the new government.

The spokesman, Richard Boucher, when asked on the outcome of the Indian elections and what it meant to the United States and the peace process with Pakistan, said: ``I am not able to predict Indian policy. I will tell you, for our part we congratulate the Congress on its success in the election. As in any well-established democracy, Prime Minister Vajpayee and his Cabinet have accepted the decision of the electorate. Once again we are shown how strong and how deep are the roots of Indian democracy in this matter. We have a very strong bilateral relationship with India and we look forward to working with the new government.''

On the peace moves between India and Pakistan, he said Washington had always supported a peaceful resolution of differences between the two countries and made ``extensive efforts'' to try and assist the two in lowering the tensions.The Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has met the Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi, every time he made a trip to India. ``I think every time he's met with Ms. Gandhi and members of the Congress leadership and he's frequently discussed this process going on with Pakistan with them and made clear how much we encourage it and support it.''

Asked if the United States is ``ready'' to welcome Prime Minister Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Boucher replied: ``When they have a government we look forward to working with that government. It's just not quite time to say that yet.''

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