ID :
22376
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 09:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22376
The shortlink copeid
Bush, Democrats hail passage of N-deal in Congress
Sridhar Krishnaswami and Dharam Shourie
Washington/ New York, Oct 2 (PTI) Hailing the resounding Senate approval to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, U.S. President George W Bush Thursday said it will strengthen global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and pitched for further strengthening strategic partnership with India.
"This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear
non-proliferation efforts, protect the environment, create
jobs, and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in
a responsible manner," Bush said in a statement soon after the
Senate overwhelmingly gave a thunbs-up to the deal by an 86-13
vote. The legislation had a 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
The President said he is looking forward to signing
the Bill, considered as a major foreign policy initiative of
his Administration, into law and "continuing to strengthen the
US-India Strategic Partnership".
Echoing similar views, Democratic Vice Presidential
candidate Senator Joseph Biden pointed to the "broad, solid,
bipartisan support" to the agreement which he said represented
a "dramatic and positive departure in the Indo-U.S. ties.
"We should work to help India increase its energy
production, combat terrorism, and guard against epidemics of
infectious diseases. We should help both India and Pakistan to
ease tensions between their countries and, someday, to walk
back from the nuclear precipice," the Delaware Democrat, who
is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said.
Biden said the passage of the Bill was a "victory" for
bilateral relations which will increase the prospect for
stability and progress in South Asia.
"India should continue its progress toward the front
rank of world leaders, and especially of leaders in combating
the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological
weapons. Approval of this agreement today helps both countries
to keep moving on the path of cooperation for a better world"
the Senator added.
The Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus
Senator John Cornyn said the "long-overdue deal" will further
strengthen the U.S.' economic and political ties with India,
already an important U.S. ally, as well as the U.S.' own
national security.
"In light of its growing demand for energy and its
track record as a responsible actor on nonproliferation
issues, India is an appropriate and worthy partner in this
historic deal. The agreement will pave the way for cooperative
efforts in peaceful civilian nuclear power, while
simultaneously addressing concerns about nuclear
proliferation," he added.
The Indian American community too was overjoyed by the
U.S. Congress' approval to the deal for which it had lobbied
aggressively among lawmakers for the last three years.
"It is mission accomplished and feels great. We are
elated. Indian Americans should be proud of their
contributions to make it happen. What a gift to our country of
birth on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday," Ashok Mago the Chairman
of the Dallas based USINDIA FORUM said in a statement.
"You may or may not agree with president Bush’s
domestic and or foreign policies but one thing Indian
Americans and people of India can agree on is that no other US
president has done for India what he has done--to bring India
out of nuclear isolation, a task no one thought was possible
three years back," Mago added.
The Indian American Republican Council said alog with
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President Bush had
fundamentally altered the landscape of Asia for years to come.
The US-India Business Council (U.S.I.B.C.) said the
deal opens up a wide vista of opportunity for collaboration in
commerce, civil nuclear research, technology transfer
and nuclear fuel supply – essential inputs to power India’s
dynamic, fast-growing economy.
"The benefits will be many and the impact profound,
beckoning a new era in U.S.-India relations," said Ron Somers,
President of the U.S.-India Business Council, the
Washington-based industry association comprising 300 of top
U.S. companies committed to a long-term partnership with
India.
The approval of the deal and how would it benefit the
country was major topic of discussions at the Indian ethnic
restaurants and other businesses.
The successful effort, many confidently predicted,
would lead to their greater participation in the political
life of the country of their adoption.
Chairman of the Indian-Americans for Democracy Sant
Singh Chatwal said the Indian-Americans professionals had
worked hard to earn name for them in the United States and the
approval of the deal shows their increasing political clout.
This, he said, would give impetus to the second and
third generation Indians to join the political mainstream
which is so essential for any community to ensure that the
issues of its concern are taken care of.
Indian National Overseas Congress (I.N.O.C.), USA,
described the passage of the deal as "victory for the people
of both nations."
The deal, said its General Secretary George Abraham,
would usher in a new era of cooperation between the two
nations and lead to even stronger relationship.
President of Federation of Indian American Christian
Organizations in North America (F.I.A.C.O.N.A.) Reverend
BernardMalik said it is recognition of India's emerging status
as super power. PTI SK
Washington/ New York, Oct 2 (PTI) Hailing the resounding Senate approval to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, U.S. President George W Bush Thursday said it will strengthen global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and pitched for further strengthening strategic partnership with India.
"This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear
non-proliferation efforts, protect the environment, create
jobs, and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in
a responsible manner," Bush said in a statement soon after the
Senate overwhelmingly gave a thunbs-up to the deal by an 86-13
vote. The legislation had a 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
The President said he is looking forward to signing
the Bill, considered as a major foreign policy initiative of
his Administration, into law and "continuing to strengthen the
US-India Strategic Partnership".
Echoing similar views, Democratic Vice Presidential
candidate Senator Joseph Biden pointed to the "broad, solid,
bipartisan support" to the agreement which he said represented
a "dramatic and positive departure in the Indo-U.S. ties.
"We should work to help India increase its energy
production, combat terrorism, and guard against epidemics of
infectious diseases. We should help both India and Pakistan to
ease tensions between their countries and, someday, to walk
back from the nuclear precipice," the Delaware Democrat, who
is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said.
Biden said the passage of the Bill was a "victory" for
bilateral relations which will increase the prospect for
stability and progress in South Asia.
"India should continue its progress toward the front
rank of world leaders, and especially of leaders in combating
the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological
weapons. Approval of this agreement today helps both countries
to keep moving on the path of cooperation for a better world"
the Senator added.
The Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus
Senator John Cornyn said the "long-overdue deal" will further
strengthen the U.S.' economic and political ties with India,
already an important U.S. ally, as well as the U.S.' own
national security.
"In light of its growing demand for energy and its
track record as a responsible actor on nonproliferation
issues, India is an appropriate and worthy partner in this
historic deal. The agreement will pave the way for cooperative
efforts in peaceful civilian nuclear power, while
simultaneously addressing concerns about nuclear
proliferation," he added.
The Indian American community too was overjoyed by the
U.S. Congress' approval to the deal for which it had lobbied
aggressively among lawmakers for the last three years.
"It is mission accomplished and feels great. We are
elated. Indian Americans should be proud of their
contributions to make it happen. What a gift to our country of
birth on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday," Ashok Mago the Chairman
of the Dallas based USINDIA FORUM said in a statement.
"You may or may not agree with president Bush’s
domestic and or foreign policies but one thing Indian
Americans and people of India can agree on is that no other US
president has done for India what he has done--to bring India
out of nuclear isolation, a task no one thought was possible
three years back," Mago added.
The Indian American Republican Council said alog with
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President Bush had
fundamentally altered the landscape of Asia for years to come.
The US-India Business Council (U.S.I.B.C.) said the
deal opens up a wide vista of opportunity for collaboration in
commerce, civil nuclear research, technology transfer
and nuclear fuel supply – essential inputs to power India’s
dynamic, fast-growing economy.
"The benefits will be many and the impact profound,
beckoning a new era in U.S.-India relations," said Ron Somers,
President of the U.S.-India Business Council, the
Washington-based industry association comprising 300 of top
U.S. companies committed to a long-term partnership with
India.
The approval of the deal and how would it benefit the
country was major topic of discussions at the Indian ethnic
restaurants and other businesses.
The successful effort, many confidently predicted,
would lead to their greater participation in the political
life of the country of their adoption.
Chairman of the Indian-Americans for Democracy Sant
Singh Chatwal said the Indian-Americans professionals had
worked hard to earn name for them in the United States and the
approval of the deal shows their increasing political clout.
This, he said, would give impetus to the second and
third generation Indians to join the political mainstream
which is so essential for any community to ensure that the
issues of its concern are taken care of.
Indian National Overseas Congress (I.N.O.C.), USA,
described the passage of the deal as "victory for the people
of both nations."
The deal, said its General Secretary George Abraham,
would usher in a new era of cooperation between the two
nations and lead to even stronger relationship.
President of Federation of Indian American Christian
Organizations in North America (F.I.A.C.O.N.A.) Reverend
BernardMalik said it is recognition of India's emerging status
as super power. PTI SK
