Washington: A bill that will allow civilian nuclear trade between India and the United States has been finalised by lawmakers either removing or diluting the language of several provisions objected to by New Delhi. The stage is now set for legislation to implement the landmark deal.

The "Henry J. Hyde United States India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006" is expected to be passed in the House of Representatives and soon thereafter in the Senate before Congress adjourns for the year.

Breakthrough

Once approved by Congress, President George W. Bush is expected to sign it into law on Monday. The breakthrough came late on Thursday when the nine conferees of the House and the Senate signed off on the Conference Report, which was then formally announced in the House Chamber.

There have been "substantial" changes in the language and in a manner that addressed many key concerns of India, but not all, said a source pointing to a number of changes in the Conference Report that take into account New Delhi's apprehensions on issues including end use monitoring and sequencing, and Iran.

It is being pointed out that in the original House version passed on July 26, 2006, Section 4 D (4) talked about prohibition on nuclear transfers to India.

India objected to this provision, saying it was contrary to what was agreed upon in the July 2005 and March 2006 accords.

The Conference Committee has used a very generalised language on the issue.

Again, New Delhi objected to the "very intrusive language," pertaining to end use monitoring, in Section 107 of the original Senate Bill that was cleared on November 16, 2006. That finds no place in the Conference Report.

On Iran, while lawmakers have retained their concern and apprehensions, the language has been reworked.

The Senate version of November 16, 2006, called for a presidential determination that India is "fully and actively participating" in the U.S. and international efforts to dissuade, sanction and contain Tehran for its nuclear programme consistent with U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The bill calls for a presidential determination that will give Congress ``a description and assessment of the specific measures that India has taken to fully and actively participate in the U.S. and international efforts to dissuade, isolate, and, if necessary, sanction and contain Iran for its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction...'' — PTI

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