US rules out new conditions on Indo-US nuclear deal

WASHINGTON: Dismissing suggestions that the Indo-US civilian nuclear accord was in serious trouble, the Bush administration has said that though it was ready to show some flexibility to accommodate the views of Congress members, it was not prepared to impose conditions or introduce legislations at this point that can "break" the deal.

"We have a very active discussion with members of Congress. There is always a variety of views and sometimes you can get lost in that. I think there are a lot of supporters who have stood up in favour of this. There are people who have praised or criticised different aspects of the agreement and we have to deal with that," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said.

"There are a number of people who have raised the issue -- actually it is Congressional prerogrative -- for Congress to vote on the bilateral agreement, something that Congressman (Tom) Lantos has raised and that is not a India issue. It is an issue for us and the Congress. But it is one that we have got to talk to them about," Boucher said.

"I think we are flexible in some terms, in terms of accommodating some of the desires of Congress and have us work with them. We certainly accept the views of Congress on different issues but we are also going to make clear that we cannot do things -- legislations or conditions -- at this point that will break the deal," Boucher said.

On the London meeting between Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, he said it was "another good step forward" with India coming back with a response to the draft of the bilateral nuclear agreement.

Boucher said that though he does not have a full report of the meeting, based on early remarks it appears to have gone quite well. "They have had the time to have a very thorough discussion, a very detailed discussion on how to move forward with the relationship, on how we move forward with the Congress, nuclear suppliers, bilateral agreements".

"I see from the reports that the Indian side came back with a response to our draft bilateral agreement which is good now. That sets us up for sitting down seriously and talking about it, negotiating it. I think overall it is another good step forward. We are working very closely together on a lot of things and this is another sign of it," he said.

Burns was intending to give him (Saran) an update on where we stood with Congress and in the kind of views we were hearing, but also to get a sense from the Indian side on where they stood, discussions with the IAEA, how to proceed on the bilateral back and forth way of sharing information, the senior administration official added.

Turning to the NSG meeting next week, Boucher stressed that while this was a conference with a broader international agenda, the subject of the US-India civilian nuclear Agreement will figure and that it would be "helpful" if New Delhi is able to answer some questions including on the status of the safeguards agreement and the separation plan.

"In terms of the US-India agreement, I am sure there will be some discussion among the countries there. It will be helpful if Indians are able to answers questions there about the status of their safeguards agreement, about the deal, about the  separation plan," he said recalling that at the last NSG meet, India had not yet tabled in its Parliament the details of the separation plan and there were a "lot of questions about that".

"What I think will happen is that there will be another discussion, a lot of questions asked and the considerations will continue at some future date," Boucher said.

As part of discussions with other countries on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the senior official said he would be travelling to Canada today.

"We have ongoing discussions with a lot of countries. We just don't do it in non proliferation circles. We do it in policy circles, people who appreciate the strategic interests for developing better relationship with India and helping India developing at the same time," Boucher said.

"We have a dialogue going with Canada," the senior official said adding that "like many others they (Canada) have some questions".

The Senior State Department official talked about the status of the civilian nuclear legislation currently pending in Congress, the administration's pitch with Congress including the limits to which it could do in securing the deal and the attitude and role of outside players like NSG.

On the civilian nuclear deal itself, Boucher, like other senior administration officials, pointed to a number of "important" things that would have to be done and that the administration did not want "one to wait for the other."

"There are a number of important things that have to be done. We don't want one to wait for the other. There are four things the US has to do and India has to do: pass legislation in US Congress and we are working on that; get the Resolution from the NSG. We are working that although this is not going to happen next week; negotiate the bilateral agreement and for India to get the safeguards agreement with the IAEA and initial discussions has been held on that," Boucher remarked.