The Hindu : Front Page : “Disclosure made as per earlier plans”

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Friday, Sep 05, 2008
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“Disclosure made as per earlier plans”

Washington: The disclosure of the letter in the United States, stating that Washington will stop nuclear trade with India, if New Delhi conducts a nuclear test, was made as per earlier plans and has nothing to do with the Nuclear Suppliers Group meet that began on Thursday, a senior Congressional aide said.

“The administration made it clear back in late July when there was no discussion of a second NSG meeting – that it intended to submit the agreement for congressional consideration during September,” Communications Director to the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lynne Weil told PTI.

The 26-page letter was released by well-known opponent of the deal Howard Berman, who is the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It contains an assertion by the Bush Administration that its assurances of nuclear supplies to India are not meant to insulate it against the consequences of a nuclear test.

“Mr. Berman decided his colleagues must receive the materials in early September so that they could be well-informed when the administration sent the agreement to Capitol Hill. The Bush Administration always knew that this material would be made public prior to Congress considering the nuclear agreement. The release of the information should come as no surprise to the administration,” she added.

“The arrangement between the committee and the State Department to keep the materials confidential was from the start tied to the schedule for congressional consideration of the U.S.-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.” — PTI

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