New Delhi
27 July 2005
Even as the Left parties remain unconvinced despite the Prime
Minister's best efforts yet to explain his government's position on the nuclear
cooperation between India and the United States, Washington has said it is optimistic of
securing the US Congress' nod because of a "bipartisan consensus" among lawmakers
there. France and the UK also have joined the US in welcoming nuclear cooperation with
India.
The deputy chief of mission in the US Embassy in India, Mr Robert Blake, has observed
that 19 out of the 38 members of India Caucus in the Senate are Democrats. Likewise,
173 representatives in the House are members of the India Caucus; 100 of them are
Democrats. He expected some progress to be made by the time US President George W
Bush arrives in India next year.
Mr Blake has said Washington was prepared to work with the US Congress, key allies
and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to change the rules to enable full nuclear cooperation
with India. The process of consultations, he said, had already begun although the pace
and quantum of progress would also depend on the time taken by India to work on its
commitments, among others, to separate its civilian and strategic nuclear facilities.
Despite Washington's optimism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tried to address some
of the anxiety about US Congressional approval for technology transfers in his address
to the India Caucus on July 19 during his recent visit to Washington. "The India Caucus,"
he told them, "can join hands [in] removing the misperceptions and stereotypes of the
past [and] for the realisation of the ambitious agenda of our cooperation."
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has clarified that it welcomed the India-US joint
statement on nuclear issues. "Over recent months we have been looking hard at how
India can be better integrated into the international system," it said. Describing India as
a responsible actor, the UK also said it was ready to discuss with its international
partners the basis for cooperation in civil nuclear matters with India.
France, in turn, has said it takes positive note of the developments that are "in line with
the effort initiated by President Chirac [to] allow major emerging industrial countries,
whose needs for clean energy are considerable, access to civilian nuclear energy."
No comments:
Post a Comment