McCain welcomes senate approval to Indo-US nuke deal

Washington, Oct 3 (PTI) Welcoming the Senate passage of the Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement, the Republican White House nominee John McCain has said the accord would allow the two countries to take maximum advantage of new technologies in curbing the emission of greenhouse gases.

In a statement issued Thursday, Senator McCain
congratulated the house for the smooth passage of the historic
legislation by a thumping 86 to 13 margin.

"Yesterday, the US Congress passed legislation clearing
the way for the U.S.-India Civil-Nuclear Agreement to come
into force. Governor Palin and I congratulate the Congress on
moving this important legislation forward," he said in the
statement.

"The agreement will also allow the U.S. and India to
cooperate in taking maximum advantage of new technologies that
can provide energy without relying on greenhouse gas-emitting
fossil fuels," it said.

Terming India as a responsible democracy, McCain said
the agreement allows the country to become further integrated
into the global effort to control proliferation of dangerous
technologies.

"Our friendship with India is rooted in the norms and
values we hold in common with the great democracies of Asia,"
the statement said.

Hailing Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call for
liberal democracy, McCain said this approach toward democracy
as "the natural order of social and political organisation in
today's world."

"When Governor Palin met with Prime Minister Singh in
New York last week, they once again reaffirmed the shared
values that are the bedrock for the prosperity and stability
we all desire. They also stressed their commitment to moving
forward on the civil nuclear accord as part of a deepening
of our relations," the Arizona Republican added.

Taking a shot at his Democratic rival Barack Obama for
trying to bring in killer amendments at the time of the Hyde
Act passage in 2006, McCain said Obama's own running mate Joe
Biden described one of the provisions Senator Obama voted for
as a 'deal breaker'.

"During the Senate's previous consideration of this
important legislation, Senator Obama supported efforts that
would have killed this accord. His own running mate, Senator
Joe Biden, described one of the provisions Senator Obama voted
for as a 'deal breaker.' We took a different approach: I
wanted to make the deal, not break it, and I have supported
the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Accord from the beginning.
Accordingly, yesterday's Congressional action is welcome"
Senator McCain said.