New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday told US President George W Bush that India still had some concerns over certain provisions of the law.
Three days after signing the US legislation on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, President Bush called Dr Singh on Thursday evening to express his happiness at the strengthening of the bilateral relations.
Bush said his initiative to amend US laws to enable bilateral civil nuclear cooperation, which received strong bipartisan support in the United States Congress, showed a new phase in Indo-US relations.
Dr Singh, while expressing satisfaction over the progress of various bilateral initiatives, told Bush that India still has some concerns with regard to the nuclear deal though many of them have already been addressed in the President's signing statement.
Dr Singh expressed the hope that the remaining concerns will be addressed in the next stage of negotiation.
The two leaders also discussed other subjects including regional matters. The Prime Minister also conveyed seasons' greetings to President Bush and the US First Lady.
Ending India's 30-year-old nuclear isolation, Bush on Monday signed the Henry J Hyde India-US Peaceful Energy Act, allowing civilian nuclear trade with New Delhi, saying the step would make the world safer.
The deal will be made operational by a separate 123 agreement between the two countries. India will also have to sign a safeguard agreement with the IAEA besides which the
45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group is required to change its guideline to allow international community to have nuclear commerce with India.
New Delhi's concerns relate to fuel assurances besides provisions in the American legislation, which appear to seek putting a cap on fissile material production and end-use monitoring of spent fuel.
Comments
0 comment