The Hindu : Front Page : Deal will send signal to outlaws: Burns

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Monday, Oct 22, 2007
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Deal will send signal to outlaws: Burns

Washington: The nuclear deal with India will send a strong signal to “outlaws such as Iran” on how a country could be “rewarded” if it behaves, the U.S. has said as it questioned New Delhi’s assertion on “civilisational ties” with Tehran.

The U.S. also termed as “anachronistic” India’s defence of some of its “oppressive and anti-democratic” non-aligned movement partners in the United Nations resolutions.

As uncertainty looms large over the India-U.S. nuclear deal, Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns has indicated that his country was aware of the difficulties that the initiative would encounter.

“...we knew that the nuclear issue was the proverbial elephant in the room in the U.S. relationship with India. We also understood that resolving it would allow us to define a more truly ambitious partnership,” he said in an article in Foreign Affairs magazine.

Referring to the opposition to the deal by Left parties, he said that despite the “objections”, the UPA government has “stood firm and is meeting its commitments under the agreement.”

Mr. Burns, who was key American negotiator for the deal, said the agreement served the U.S.’ national security interests.

“This agreement will deepen the strategic partnership, create new opportunities for the U.S. businesses in India, enhance global energy security, and reduce India’s carbon emissions,” he said.

Mr. Burns said India needs to be “careful” about its long-term relationship with Iran.

He noted that the India-U.S. relationship was the fastest developing friendship with any major country in the world. — PTI

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