ID :
18389
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/18389
The shortlink copeid
Congressman critical of N.S.G. for granting waiver to India
Washington, Sep 7 (PTI) A leading and consistent critic of the Indo U.S. civilian nuclear deal has slammed the Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) for granting a waiver to India in nuclear trade without binding non proliferation commitments.
Democratic Congressman Edward Markey of Massachussetts, maintained that the Bush administration strong armed the N.S.G. in "overtime" and that Congress has still the final say on the matter.
"In overtime, the Bush Administration managed to
strong-arm the N.S.G. into skirting the normal rules governing
international nuclear trade. This agreement effectively blows
a hole in the global non proliferation regime, setting a
dangerous precedent" said Markey.
What kind of lesson does it send to countries like
Pakistan, Iran and North Korea, when we skirt the rules for
our friends, but insist on strict compliance for them? The
nuclear supplier nations cannot preach nuclear temperance from
a barstool, and the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal is going to
undermine the credibility of international efforts to prevent
the further spread of the bomb" the Democratic Congressman
said in a statement.
"The U.S. Congress must still vote to approve this
agreement, and no one should assume congressional approval
will be automatic. There are only a few weeks left in the
session, and it is highly questionable whether such a
complex and controversial agreement can be thoroughly examined
before the House and Senate adjourn for the elections.
The pledges extracted from India on continuing their
nuclear moratorium, and on retransfers of nuclear technology,
need to be better understood, and there need to be clear
consequences if India breaks its commitments or resumes
nuclear testing" he added.
"Moreover, this agreement clashes with the law Congress
enacted to guide consideration of such an agreement, the Hyde
Act, and Congress must therefore either disapprove the deal,
or insist on conditions that would bring it into full
conformance with the Hyde Act" the Massachussetts Democrat
said stressing that although the Bush administration might
wish it otherwise, the Hyde Act is the law of the land, and it
cannot be dismissed for " cynical " political expediency.
"Congress should stand by the Hyde Act and take all the
time necessary to dissect the details of this agreement before
any vote is scheduled " the law maker said.
Markey is obviously referring to talk in administration
and Congressional circles that ways could be find of going
around the 30 day stipulation that the Agreement must lie in
Congress. The urgency has to do with the fact that members of
Congress after convening on September 8 are scheduled to
break away on September 26 making it the last day of the 110th
session.
Although the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said
that she is not in favour of a Lame Duck Session the
Republican leadership has been talking of that possibility
which means that the civilian nuclear initiative could have a
lease of life in the 110th Congress should there indeed be a
Lame Duck session after the November four elections. PTI
Democratic Congressman Edward Markey of Massachussetts, maintained that the Bush administration strong armed the N.S.G. in "overtime" and that Congress has still the final say on the matter.
"In overtime, the Bush Administration managed to
strong-arm the N.S.G. into skirting the normal rules governing
international nuclear trade. This agreement effectively blows
a hole in the global non proliferation regime, setting a
dangerous precedent" said Markey.
What kind of lesson does it send to countries like
Pakistan, Iran and North Korea, when we skirt the rules for
our friends, but insist on strict compliance for them? The
nuclear supplier nations cannot preach nuclear temperance from
a barstool, and the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal is going to
undermine the credibility of international efforts to prevent
the further spread of the bomb" the Democratic Congressman
said in a statement.
"The U.S. Congress must still vote to approve this
agreement, and no one should assume congressional approval
will be automatic. There are only a few weeks left in the
session, and it is highly questionable whether such a
complex and controversial agreement can be thoroughly examined
before the House and Senate adjourn for the elections.
The pledges extracted from India on continuing their
nuclear moratorium, and on retransfers of nuclear technology,
need to be better understood, and there need to be clear
consequences if India breaks its commitments or resumes
nuclear testing" he added.
"Moreover, this agreement clashes with the law Congress
enacted to guide consideration of such an agreement, the Hyde
Act, and Congress must therefore either disapprove the deal,
or insist on conditions that would bring it into full
conformance with the Hyde Act" the Massachussetts Democrat
said stressing that although the Bush administration might
wish it otherwise, the Hyde Act is the law of the land, and it
cannot be dismissed for " cynical " political expediency.
"Congress should stand by the Hyde Act and take all the
time necessary to dissect the details of this agreement before
any vote is scheduled " the law maker said.
Markey is obviously referring to talk in administration
and Congressional circles that ways could be find of going
around the 30 day stipulation that the Agreement must lie in
Congress. The urgency has to do with the fact that members of
Congress after convening on September 8 are scheduled to
break away on September 26 making it the last day of the 110th
session.
Although the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said
that she is not in favour of a Lame Duck Session the
Republican leadership has been talking of that possibility
which means that the civilian nuclear initiative could have a
lease of life in the 110th Congress should there indeed be a
Lame Duck session after the November four elections. PTI
