The Hindu : International / India & World : Nuclear deal is in our interest: Bush

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Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006

International

International - India & World

Nuclear deal is in our interest: Bush

``Use of safe nuclear power should be encouraged''

EXPLAINING THINGS: U.S President George W. Bush answers questions after a speech at the City Club in Cleveland on Monday. — Photo: AP

Washington: United States President George Bush has said it was in America's interest to work out the civilian nuclear deal with India and develop the ``important relationship'' by setting aside Cold-War era tensions.

Mr. Bush also said it was a ``positive development'' for India that Washington was a friend of Islamabad and likewise for Pakistan that America was a friend of India.

Controversial decision

Speaking about the deal, Mr. Bush said it was a ``controversial decision'' as it ``basically flies in the face of Cold War attitudes, as well as arms control thinking,'' but emphasised that the move would help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. ``We live in a global economy, there is a demand for fossil fuels — an increase in the demand for fossil fuels in one part of the world affects the price of gasoline in our world. We're connected. Whether people like it or not, there is an interconnectedness today that affects our economy.

``Somebody's decision overseas affects whether or not people are going to be able to work here in America. So I think it makes sense for the United States, as we ourselves become less addicted to oil and fossil fuels, which I'm serious about, encourage others to do so, as well,'' Mr. Bush told reporters in Cleveland on Monday.

Mr. Bush said the use of safe nuclear power should be encouraged.

``It's in our interests, our economic interests that we work an agreement with India to encourage their expansion of civilian nuclear power'', he said.

Briefs Howard

Mr. Bush has briefed Australian Prime Minister John Howard on the nuclear deal with India in a move seen as groundwork by Canberra for a possible policy change to allow uranium exports to India.

Conveys sympathies

The two leaders discussed the deal after Mr. Bush called to pass on his sympathies over a tropical cyclone that devastated parts of northern Queensland State.

India wants to buy uranium from Australia, which has more than 40 per cent of the world's known reserves of the mineral. But Canberra maintains it would not sell to countries, such as India, that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Mr. Howard said he discussed the nature of the agreement with Mr. Bush and the reasons why the United States had entered into it and the advantages of having India's civil nuclear capacity placed under international inspection.

— PTI

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