Bush hopeful of US-India nuclear deal

SAINT PETERSBURG:  US President George W. Bush told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Monday that he was "optimistic" US lawmakers would approve a controversial civilian nuclear agreement.   

"Our congress is working on that important piece of legislation that will encourage and allow India and US cooperation, and I'm optimistic that we will get that passed," said Bush, who called the accord "that wonderful deal."   

Singh thanked Bush for his efforts to get the necessary legislation "moving through the Congress" and explained there were concerns among Indian lawmakers too.   

"We have a parliament which is very jealous of what we do and what we don't do," he said, as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit of industrialized nations.   

The nuclear pact won quick approval from the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee last month, boosting its chances of garnering floor votes in the full chambers.   

Officials have been tinkering with the final bill however, which opponents argue does not include sufficient safeguards to prevent India from applying nuclear technology and material to military use.   

Under the deal, the United States will aid the development of civil nuclear power in India in return for New Delhi placing some of its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency inspections.   

The US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 currently prevents the United States from trading nuclear technology with nations that have not signed up to the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.

The law has to be amended for the India deal to be effective.    India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 and, as a result, is currently banned by the United States and other major powers from buying fuel for atomic reactors and other related equipment.