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U.S. can’t compel firms to give supply assurances: Mulford

Sandeep Dikshit

David Mulford

NEW DELHI: The U.S. has said that it will “faithfully honour every single commitment” in the 123 agreement but “cannot compel” its companies to provide “certain things.”

Addressing newspersons hours after the U.S. Senate approved the India-U.S. 123 civil nuclear agreement, U.S. ambassador in India David Mulford said the text of the pact approved by the U.S. Congress is in “general compliance” with the declaration issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President George Bush on July 5, 2005.

“It is a very simple and well understood point in global affairs. In the 123 agreement, which is going to be a law, every single commitment is binding,” Mr. Mulford said, when asked about the lack of a legally binding commitment on fuel assurances. “That is a presidential commitment which bears the full weight of the Government of the U.S. and will no doubt be honoured in the future.” But, the “U.S. government cannot compel commercial companies to provide certain things. It is a simple point blown out of proportion.”

The basic tenets of the 123 agreement have been preserved while it was passed by the U.S. Congress. “There were no amendments to the contents of the agreement,” he said, adding that the deal was not driven by commercial considerations. “This is an agreement [by which] the U.S. wished to be of assistance to India in realising its vision of becoming a world power.” At the same time, he conceded that the “spawning” of the civil nuclear industry in India would have a favourable economic impact on the U.S.

Mr. Mulford expects U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit India “in the next few days.” Both sides are in consultations over a timetable which includes completing the “necessary steps” or signing the 123 agreement. “At this time I can’t confirm whether we can accomplish that. The Indian government must sign the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency before the 123 is signed,” he observed.

Describing the process as long and very complex with each step fraught with difficulties, Mr. Mulford in his opening statement complimented the Manmohan Singh government for placing “all of its credibility on the line” by moving forward to the final phase breaking nine to 10 months of political stalemate. But the entire ownership for the initiative vested with U.S. President George Bush who “stuck to it faithfully” and “delivered the U.S. side of the agreement.”

The 123 agreement grants India “upfront” reprocessing rights but there is a timetable. On enrichment and reprocessing (E&R) technology, the ambassador said the U.S. laws prohibit such transfers to any country. “India doesn’t need it at this point. It has its competencies. But the law is clear, although it might be changed in future, it cannot be supplied to anybody.”

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