Don't "disadvantage" US firms if N-deal not okayed by Congress

Washington, Sept 8 (PTI) Apparently worried over the
possibility of other N.S.G. members getting away with
lucrative nuclear contracts with India after the landmark
waiver, the U.S. has asked New Delhi not to "disadvantage"
Americans companies should the 123 agreement not get through
the current Congress.

"We have talked to the Indian government about not
disadvantaging American companies and I think they recognise
and appreciate American leadership on this issue. But
obviously, the best thing would be to get it through
Congress" Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Rice remarked.

".. we will have to see. The congressional calendar is
short, but the main thing is the international work is now
done. I certainly hope to get it through because it's also a
big step for the U.S.-India relationship," Rice told reporters
travelling with her in Algeris, capital of Algeria.

Terming the waiver granted to India by the 45-member
Nuclear Suppliers group (N.S.G.) as a "huge step" in bilateral
ties, Rice also complimented the role played by the Indian
government at the N.S.G. meeting in Vienna.

"This is an important step forward. I have to say that
India showed a lot of leadership," she said.

"We got lot of help from the Indian government to make
this possible, but also from a number of delegations that
worked very closely with us. And I think that it is a really
very big step forward for the non-proliferation framework" she
was quoted as saying by transcript released by the State
Department.

Rice said that she did make a "lot" of calls in the run
up to the decision in Vienna but would not divulge the content
of the various conversations she had.

"...I had extensive discussions of this when I was in
New Zealand, with the prime minister and the foreign minister.
I have talked at least to the Irish, the Austrians, the
Chinese. I will get you a list... but it's been a lot," she
said.