ID :
21118
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 16:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21118
The shortlink copeid
US scholars on South Asia for quick Senate vote on N-deal By Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Sept 24 (PTI) A group of experts on South
Asian issues have asked the U.S. Senate Majority leader Harry
Reid to quickly schedule the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal for a
vote, saying a failure to get a legislative nod for the accord
would mark a setback to the strategic ties between the two
nations.
In a letter to Senator Reid, against the backdrop of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee marking up the Bill of
Approval to the U.S.-India agreement by a whopping 19 to 2
vote, the Group of South Asia hands termed the issue as the
"most vital to the future of the Indo-U.S. relationship".
"No issue is more vital to the future of the U.S.-India
partnership than this legislation... Now that the hard work of
negotiating has been done, both bilaterally and
internationally, it is essential to seize the moment and pass
the implementing legislation," the Group said.
A failure on the part of the Congress to take final
action over implementing the agreement, the letter said, would
be a severe setback to the strategic gains both the US and
India hope to gain from their partnership.
"It would also put U.S. industry at a deep disadvantage,
now that other states can freely participate in civil nuclear
cooperation with India," it said pointing to the business
aspect of the civilian nuclear agreement and its importance
for American firms.
"This is the time to move forward, decisively and fast.
This agreement is too important to be defeated by letting the
clock run out," the writers said.
Among those who initiated the letter are Walter Andersen
of the Johns Hopkins University, Harold Gould of University of
Virginia and Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment.
Besides, Robert Hathway of the Wilson Centre, former
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth,
and former Ambassadors of the U.S. to India Richard Celeste
and Frank Wisner were also among the people endorsing the
letter.
Maintaining that India's growing economy and powerful
military position, makes it a global partner for the U.S., the
the scholars, officials and diplomats said there existed
convergence between the two countries on crucial international
issues.
"India has also taken a strong stand against terrorism,"
they said, while praising its record on non-proliferation.
"India's formal statement to the N.S.G. on September 5
reiterates its commitment to a voluntary, unilateral
moratorium on nuclear testing."
"It pledges to strengthen the international
nonproliferation regime, and undertakes to work toward a
multilateral Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. Implementing this
agreement will give new energy to these critical
nonproliferation efforts," they said.
The letter said India's energy demand, which is expected
to grow 4.6 percent for the next two decades, requires
ambitious expansion on the civil nuclear front, emphasising
the environmental benefit resulting from operationalisation of
the deal.
"... with an economy growing at 7-9 percent, every
nuclear power plant it introduces will take some pressure off
the financial and environmental costs of conventional
generation. We need this agreement, for our sake and for the
sake of the planet," it said.
Meanwhile, the Indian American community that has played
a major role in the shaping of the U.S.-India Agreement is
hopeful that a legislative nod will come for the agreement
before the Congress adjourns for this season.
"We are a step closer to have final passage of the
civilian nuclear initiative," Chair of the USINDIA Forum Ashok
Mago said.
"I would not be surprised if the deal remains unfinished
by the time the Indian Prime Minister comes to the White House
for a meeting with President Bush, but I would be very
surprised if Congress adjourns without getting the job done,"
Mago added.
That adjournment which was originally scheduled for
September 26 may not materialise and Congress may sit for an
additional week to sort through some of the pending issues.
The President might also call lawmakers for a Lame Duck
session in the first week of December, if the agenda is not
complete by October. PTI SK
BDS
Asian issues have asked the U.S. Senate Majority leader Harry
Reid to quickly schedule the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal for a
vote, saying a failure to get a legislative nod for the accord
would mark a setback to the strategic ties between the two
nations.
In a letter to Senator Reid, against the backdrop of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee marking up the Bill of
Approval to the U.S.-India agreement by a whopping 19 to 2
vote, the Group of South Asia hands termed the issue as the
"most vital to the future of the Indo-U.S. relationship".
"No issue is more vital to the future of the U.S.-India
partnership than this legislation... Now that the hard work of
negotiating has been done, both bilaterally and
internationally, it is essential to seize the moment and pass
the implementing legislation," the Group said.
A failure on the part of the Congress to take final
action over implementing the agreement, the letter said, would
be a severe setback to the strategic gains both the US and
India hope to gain from their partnership.
"It would also put U.S. industry at a deep disadvantage,
now that other states can freely participate in civil nuclear
cooperation with India," it said pointing to the business
aspect of the civilian nuclear agreement and its importance
for American firms.
"This is the time to move forward, decisively and fast.
This agreement is too important to be defeated by letting the
clock run out," the writers said.
Among those who initiated the letter are Walter Andersen
of the Johns Hopkins University, Harold Gould of University of
Virginia and Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment.
Besides, Robert Hathway of the Wilson Centre, former
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth,
and former Ambassadors of the U.S. to India Richard Celeste
and Frank Wisner were also among the people endorsing the
letter.
Maintaining that India's growing economy and powerful
military position, makes it a global partner for the U.S., the
the scholars, officials and diplomats said there existed
convergence between the two countries on crucial international
issues.
"India has also taken a strong stand against terrorism,"
they said, while praising its record on non-proliferation.
"India's formal statement to the N.S.G. on September 5
reiterates its commitment to a voluntary, unilateral
moratorium on nuclear testing."
"It pledges to strengthen the international
nonproliferation regime, and undertakes to work toward a
multilateral Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. Implementing this
agreement will give new energy to these critical
nonproliferation efforts," they said.
The letter said India's energy demand, which is expected
to grow 4.6 percent for the next two decades, requires
ambitious expansion on the civil nuclear front, emphasising
the environmental benefit resulting from operationalisation of
the deal.
"... with an economy growing at 7-9 percent, every
nuclear power plant it introduces will take some pressure off
the financial and environmental costs of conventional
generation. We need this agreement, for our sake and for the
sake of the planet," it said.
Meanwhile, the Indian American community that has played
a major role in the shaping of the U.S.-India Agreement is
hopeful that a legislative nod will come for the agreement
before the Congress adjourns for this season.
"We are a step closer to have final passage of the
civilian nuclear initiative," Chair of the USINDIA Forum Ashok
Mago said.
"I would not be surprised if the deal remains unfinished
by the time the Indian Prime Minister comes to the White House
for a meeting with President Bush, but I would be very
surprised if Congress adjourns without getting the job done,"
Mago added.
That adjournment which was originally scheduled for
September 26 may not materialise and Congress may sit for an
additional week to sort through some of the pending issues.
The President might also call lawmakers for a Lame Duck
session in the first week of December, if the agenda is not
complete by October. PTI SK
BDS
