The Hindu : Front Page : Burns may visit India ahead of Bush

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 12, 2006

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Front Page

Burns may visit India ahead of Bush

Washington: As India and the U.S. race against time to implement the civil nuclear deal, officials indicated here on Saturday that the two countries could hold one more round of talks before President George W. Bush visits New Delhi.

"There is nothing specific as of now but nothing can be ruled out," an official told PTI here when asked whether Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns could come to India to hold talks with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on the nuclear deal.

Nuclear deal to be discussed

Mr. Burns' trip could be in the context of preparations for Mr. Bush's visit, but there are indications that the two sides could discuss the nuclear issue as well.

The two countries had intended to implement the deal, signed on July 18 last year during the US visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After two rounds of talks between Mr. Saran and Mr. Burns on the deal, the two sides acknowledged that there were "difficulties ahead."

After the talks here on January 20, it was indicated that the deal could not be implemented before Mr. Bush's visit.

"We have made some progress over the last six months [of negotiations] but much further progress has to be made. There are difficulties ahead," Mr. Burns had said.

Asked whether the negotiations could be completed before Mr. Bush's visit, expected in the first week of March, he said, "We are not sure. We are going for it. We will be working hard but there are difficulties there."

India's reluctance

The talks have apparently become difficult because of India's reluctance to accept the U.S. demand that New Delhi put fast breeder reactors in the civilian side. — PTI

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