Nuke deal to strengthen nonproliferation regime: US

Shridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Sept 13 (PTI) With the Indo-U.S. nuclear
deal waiting to get the Congress approval, the State
department has said the initiative will help meet India's
growing energy requirements and strengthen the non-
proliferation regime by welcoming India into internationally
accepted nonproliferation standards and practices.

Issuing a fact sheet on the civilian nuclear
initiative, the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs also
expressed hope to get the deal approved by the U.S. Congress.

"This initiative establishes a firm foundation for
additional nonproliferation and counter proliferation
cooperation, areas we fully intend to advance through the
course of our strategic partnership," the State department
said.

"Congressional approval would be the culmination of
an unprecedented three-year effort by the U.S. and India, in a
way that deepens our strategic partnership and strengthens
global nonproliferation principals while providing trade and
investment opportunities that will assist India to meet its
energy requirements in an environmentally responsible way," it
said.

Calling the decision of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.)of August 1 and that of the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) of September 6 as "historic events"
the State Department has said that these events "have
welcomed India into the nonproliferation regimes and formed a
firm foundation for the US and India to strengthen our efforts
in the future to prevent Weapons of Mass Destruction (W.M.D.)
proliferation and to combat terrorism".

"We believe the 123 Agreement package is consistent
with the requirements Congress set out with strong bipartisan
support in its passage of the Hyde Act in 2006, and we look
forward to continuing our work with Congress to bring the
agreement into force" the State Department said.

Though, the statement said the President's
communication with Congress that refers to fuel supplies to
India was more of a political commitment rather than legally
binding.

India’s commitment to continue its unilateral
moratorium on nuclear testing, along with the others made this
Initiative "achievable" the Fact Sheet said.

"Peaceful nuclear cooperation does not fundamentally
differ from other forms of energy cooperation... The N.P.T.
allows for such nuclear energy cooperation with non-parties
that do not have full-scope safeguards, so long as such
cooperation is under safeguards" it said.

"Additionally, India has pledged to continue its
unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and is working with
the United States to conclude a multilateral Fissile Material
Cutoff Treaty – a longstanding objective of the international
community," it said adding each of these activities helps
strengthen the global nonproliferation regime.
"Together, they constitute a dramatic change in moving
India into closer conformity with international
nonproliferation standards and practices."
The State Department also thanked the N.S.G. member
countries for their "outstanding efforts and cooperation in
forging this consensus on welcoming India closer to the
international nonproliferation regime".