Bush has welcomed congressional approval of the Indo-US nuke deal, saying the strategic relationship between the two countries.
US President George W Bush has welcomed congressional approval of the India-US nuclear agreement, saying that “the bipartisan legislation will strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries and deliver valuable benefits”.
“I am pleased that our two countries will soon have increased opportunities to work together to meet our energy needs in a manner that does not increase air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, promotes clean development, supports nonproliferation, and advances our trade interests,” Bush said in a statement.
He called it an “extraordinary legislation” and said, “I look forward to signing this bill into law soon.” Congress passed the US-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act shortly before adjourning for the remainder of 2006. The measure lifts the 30-year-old ban on the export of US nuclear technology and fuel to India. The legislation codifies the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreement, announced July 18, 2005, by President Bush and PM Manmohan Singh in Washington, and then signed in early March 2006 during Bush’s state visit to India.
US Senate India Caucus co-chairman. John Corny said the passage of this cooperative agreement bring India into the mainstream of international nonproliferation efforts, while lessening India’s dependence on fossil fuels.
CII President R Seshasayee, CII said “This is a vote of confidence in India”. The CII statement said, “India can now expand its Energy programs and CII hopes that the Nuclear Suppliers group countries will fully co-operate in recognising India’s position as a responsible nuclear power.”
Meanwhile, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) says high technology cooperation permitted by the India-US civil nuclear deal will transform the economic and geopolitical destiny of the 21st century. “This legislation marks the most significant foreign policy advancement in the history of our two democracies,” Ron Somers, president of the premier industry advocacy group for companies with business interests in India, said.
USIBC, comprising 230 of the largest US companies investing in India and India’s major global players, has devoted its resources and acumen advocating passage of this legislation ever since the visit of PM Singh here in July 2005, he said.
Hailing US Congressional approval of the deal, Somers said the legislation “will engender an atmosphere of mutual respect, goodwill and trust that will yield a bounty of opportunity for both countries.
“When you consider India’s wealth of human resources, its educational institutions, and its youthful demographic, history will rank this initiative as a tectonic shift equivalent to Nixon’s opening to China,” Somers said.
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