‘White House is flexible’

WASHINGTON: The Bush administration is willing to consider changes in its legislative proposal to win congressional approval of a controversial US-India nuclear energy cooperation accord, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said on Monday.

“We’re trying to be understanding of congressional prerogatives and flexible in our approach provided that it results in really ... moving the legislation forward,” Boucher said in an interview.

“We haven’t quite reached closure yet on how that might happen, but we’re certainly open to suggestions from the Hill” and hope Congress will vote to approve the nuclear deal in the next month or two, he said, without giving more details.

The nuclear agreement — granting India access to US nuclear fuel and reactors for the first time in 30 years — has run into serious trouble in Washington and New Delhi. Critics on both sides complain their side got too little and the other side got too much. 

In the United States, Congress must approve the deal, which was first agreed to in principle by President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last July 18. The 46-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which controls nuclear trade, also must change its rules.