ID :
14516
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 07:49
Auther :

Burns presses for speedy Nuclear deal approval

Sridhar Krishnaswami Washington, July 31 (PTI) Nicholas Burns, who played a key role in clinching the Indo-US nuclear deal, has pressed the I.A.E.A., N.S.G. and the Congress to swiftly put its stamp of approval on it to send a strong message to countries like Iran "to play by the rules" and for strengthening thenon-proliferation regime.

"My conviction is that this deal strengthens the non proliferation regime...it makes India a stakeholder," said theformer Under Secretary of State of Political Affairs.

"I am for this agreement because it is good for both countries.... The civilian nuclear deal is a symbolic centerpiece of the bilateral relations," said the former Bush administration official who played a key role in the passing of the Hyde Act in December 2006 by the Congress and in thenegotiations leading to the conclusion of the 123 Agreement.

In his formal remarks, Burns argued that the nuclear deal is good for American businesses, for the environment and aboveall sends an "important" message to countries like Iran.

"If you play by the rules.... there will be benefits," the former senior official reminded Tehran during a paneldebate on nuclear agreement at the Brookings Institution.

Burns, who stepped down in March and was appointed as a special envoy to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the deal, also stressed that the United States has in place "the right measures to protect" its interests by retaining theright to terminate the agreement.

He asserted that the 123 Agreement is "absolutely"consistent with the Hyde Act.


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