International   

India committed to nuclear deal: Ronen Sen

Washington: The Government of India is “committed” to the civilian nuclear deal with the U.S., Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen said here. But New Delhi was bound only by the bilateral 123 Agreement.

His comments come ahead of the crucial March 17 United Progressive Alliance-Left committee meeting in the context of an ultimatum by the Left parties, which are supporting the government from outside, to make its stand clear on the deal.

“As far as the status of the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement is concerned ... I would like to say clearly and categorically that the government is committed to that,” Mr. Sen told a gathering at the ‘India Initiative’ programme of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the George Washington University.

“There is still work in progress. We are a democracy and there are certain processes which have to be over and that is not complete; and we have to take subsequent steps from international forums,” he said referring to the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and an exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The safeguards agreement, along with the NSG waiver, is a prerequisite for operationalising the nuclear deal.

“We hope that these steps will be completed as soon as possible so that this agreement will come into force,” Mr. Sen said.

“As far as we are concerned — that is the Government of India — we are committed to the bilateral agreement which we have worked out after long negotiations ... What we are bound by is the 123 Agreement,” Mr. Sen stressed in response to a question.

“As far as the NSG, I don’t want to anticipate what the conclusion will be but we expect a clear exemption.”

No agreement on any issue could and would be long-lasting unless it was perceived to be of mutual benefit, he said.

“There is a debate going on in both our countries ... as democracies we have to take decisions through our democratic process,” the envoy said.

“But I don’t think any of us would want to lecture the other on what we should do or should not do,” the Ambassador said. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Spitzer could face criminal charges
Jia re-elected Chairman
58 LTTE cadres killed: Colombo
Indian surgeon denies charges
“Soft” conservatives highlight Iran’s economic problems
Berth-sharing talks on in Pakistan
Promise of free education brings cheer to urban Chinese
U.N. warned of Iraq-style disaster in Darfur
India committed to nuclear deal: Ronen Sen
Australia to probe Haneef case bungling
It is disinformation, India tells Pakistan
C’wealth citizens may lose political rights in the U.K.

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu