ID :
18897
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 10:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/18897
The shortlink copeid
India has sovereign right to conduct N-tests: Mulford
New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) India has the sovereign right to conduct nuclear test and that issue was never debated, the United States said Wednesday.
"If you ask me can India conduct (nuclear) test, my answer is India has had and will always have the sovereign right to conduct a test. That has never been debated," U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford told Karan Thapar on 'India Tonight' programme of CNBC-TV18.
India has got a "clean" waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) to participate in global nuclear trade, he said.
He said it was not a "correct interpretation" to say that there would be a periodic review of the N.S.G. waiver.
"But it is very important and understandable that a group
like this (N.S.G.), when an exceptional decision is being
made, then there will be a continuation of exchange of views
between parties," Mulford said.
Asked whether India has given a commitment not to conduct
tests, the Ambassador said "it does not have to."
On the time-table for wrapping up the Indo-U.S. nuclear
deal, he said the 123 agreement will be placed before the U.S.
Congress for final nod "today, tomorrow (or in a) few hours"
as it was "virtually ready" to be put up before it.
However, Mulford said the U.S. Congress does business
according to its own timetable. "The administration is in
touch with senior Congressmen," he added.
Noting that there are reasons to be "hopeful" about
getting a clearance from the Congress soon, the U.S. diplomat
said many U.S. lawmakers would like to see that the agreement
is cleared during the time of Bush administration itself.
"They (Congressmen) will be willing to be flexible on the
timing (of passing the 123 agreement) and all," Mulford said.
He noted that the statement by External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee, which reaffirmed India's commitment to
no-first-use of nuclear weapons, was "extremely helpful" in
gaining support for creating a momentum for the process for an
India waiver to come to a conclusion.
Seeking to play down the leakage of the correspondence
between the U.S. Congress and the State Department, Mulford
said he was "mystified" by the attention the issue got as it
is a "very very simple" matter.
"It was not a secret, confidential document...nothing in
that document is different from what was negotiated," he said.
The Ambassador said the "landmark" 123 agreement will be
a "major accomplishment" of Bush adminstration.
He said U.S. President George W Bush was actively
involved in the realisation of the 123 agreement. "Bush has
pushed forward the agreement all the way long through various
negotiating points," Mulford said. PTI SKT
"If you ask me can India conduct (nuclear) test, my answer is India has had and will always have the sovereign right to conduct a test. That has never been debated," U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford told Karan Thapar on 'India Tonight' programme of CNBC-TV18.
India has got a "clean" waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) to participate in global nuclear trade, he said.
He said it was not a "correct interpretation" to say that there would be a periodic review of the N.S.G. waiver.
"But it is very important and understandable that a group
like this (N.S.G.), when an exceptional decision is being
made, then there will be a continuation of exchange of views
between parties," Mulford said.
Asked whether India has given a commitment not to conduct
tests, the Ambassador said "it does not have to."
On the time-table for wrapping up the Indo-U.S. nuclear
deal, he said the 123 agreement will be placed before the U.S.
Congress for final nod "today, tomorrow (or in a) few hours"
as it was "virtually ready" to be put up before it.
However, Mulford said the U.S. Congress does business
according to its own timetable. "The administration is in
touch with senior Congressmen," he added.
Noting that there are reasons to be "hopeful" about
getting a clearance from the Congress soon, the U.S. diplomat
said many U.S. lawmakers would like to see that the agreement
is cleared during the time of Bush administration itself.
"They (Congressmen) will be willing to be flexible on the
timing (of passing the 123 agreement) and all," Mulford said.
He noted that the statement by External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee, which reaffirmed India's commitment to
no-first-use of nuclear weapons, was "extremely helpful" in
gaining support for creating a momentum for the process for an
India waiver to come to a conclusion.
Seeking to play down the leakage of the correspondence
between the U.S. Congress and the State Department, Mulford
said he was "mystified" by the attention the issue got as it
is a "very very simple" matter.
"It was not a secret, confidential document...nothing in
that document is different from what was negotiated," he said.
The Ambassador said the "landmark" 123 agreement will be
a "major accomplishment" of Bush adminstration.
He said U.S. President George W Bush was actively
involved in the realisation of the 123 agreement. "Bush has
pushed forward the agreement all the way long through various
negotiating points," Mulford said. PTI SKT
