ID :
22692
Sun, 10/05/2008 - 21:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22692
The shortlink copeid
Lot of administrative steps to be worked out on N-deal: Rice
Washington, Oct 4 (PTI) Indicating that the nuclear deal may not be inked during her India visit, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said there are still a number of administrative details to be worked out, even as she insisted that the U.S. will abide by the Hyde Act on the testing issue.
".... there are a lot of administrative details that
have to be worked out. This (the deal) was only passed in our
Congress two days ago. The President is looking forward to
signing the bill, sometime, I hope, in – very soon, because
we'll want to use it as an opportunity to thank all of the
people who have been involved in this.
"That means the U.S.-India – the Indian American
community, the U.S.-India business community, and the
diplomats and others who have been involved," Rice told
reporters on her way to India, according to a transcript
released by the State Department here.
Rice said the Bush administration is working through
administrative details but the more important thing now is to
look beyond the historic agreement to what else could be done
in the broad bilateral relationship.
"....I'm going to draw a line under this one way or
another, because this is now time – it's time to put the
historic agreement, say that that's done, and move on to what
else we can do, because we've got a very broad relationship.
It's got to be worked out at the last minute, because there
are so many administrative issues that we have to deal with,"
Rice said.
Elaborating, she said "... for instance, we have to
enroll the bill when it comes over from the Congress. So look,
the important thing about this trip is to talk about the next
steps in the U.S.-India relationship, not the last step...."
"The President does not have to sign before I sign (the
deal). But we're working through the details of this. I'll let
you know. But the whole purpose of this trip is to move
forward, not to look at where we are," Rice said.
The Secretary of State made it known that the views of
the United States on the issue of nuclear testing by India are
very clear; and that Washington will remain true to the
commitments of the Hyde Act as also to those made by President
George W. Bush to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
She stressed that the Bush administration is satisfied
with the commitments made by India on the participation of
American firms, especially on the issue of liability of
damage in the event of an accident.
"I think we've been very clear about U.S. views on this
issue (testing). The Indians have a lot at stake here. And
they have made very clear that what they want to do is they
want to move on to civil nuclear cooperation. And I think
they understand the grounds on which we've done this.
"The United States is going to remain true to its
commitments under the Hyde Act and true to the commitments
that President Bush has made to Prime Ministers Singh. And I
know that the Indians will do the same," Rice said.
The Secretary of State was asked on liability, limiting
damage if there Is an accident before U.S. businesses can
really benefit from this and when a convention on this would
be settled with India.
"We have a letter of intent from the Indians that we
believe is a very firm set of commitments and a framework for
making sure that our businesses can do business in India.
So I'm satisfied about the details of all of this. This
really is about administrative matters, not about the
substance of it," Rice replied.
Rice maintained that the purpose of her trip to India was
not to push the 'Buy American' angle. "You know, it's not. I'm
confident that the United States will - American companies
will compete with - we're free traders. And we believe that
American companies will compete.
"Now, what we have done, I think, is to demonstrate that
the United States was willing to take a strategic step that
has made it possible for India to enter a new realm in terms
of its ability to cooperate and to be integrated into what is
a global industry that is bigger than just nuclear reactors."
The State Department, meanwhile, clarified some procedural
steps that would have to be taken before civil nuclear trade
can commence with India. One of these being that after the
President signs the legislation into law he would have to make
a certification that it is the U.S. policy to work with N.S.G.
to further restrict transfers of equipment and technology
related to uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent
nuclear fuel.
"Before civil nuclear trade can commence with India, some
procedural actions must occur," the Department said.
The two countries "must sign the U.S.-India Agreement for
Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123
Agreement). This text has been finalised and initialled since
July 2007" and that the President must sign into law the
legislation recently passed by Congress approving the 123
Agreement," it said in a statement.
"After it becomes law, the President will make two
certifications required under the law: (1) that conclusion
and implementation of the agreement by its terms is consistent
with U.S. obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty; and (2) that it is the policy of the United States to
work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to further
restrict transfers of equipment and technology related to
uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel."
Following the certifications, it said, India and U.S.
will exchange diplomatic notes pursuant to Article 16(1) of
the 123 Agreement, thereby bringing the pact into force.
Speaking about nuclear technology and technological
cooperation, Rice said "there are a lot of associated
industries. And so I think the Indians recognise that the
United States took that strategic step and help India get
through the N.S.G. (Nuclear Suppliers Group) and the I.A.E.A.
(International Atomic Energy Agency) and so forth."
"But ultimately, what American companies are really
asking is an opportunity to demonstrate their capability and
what they can do. And that's what we expect that they will
do," she added.
In her opening remarks, Rice said that she is very much
looking forward to going to India "really to just affirm the
extraordinary progress that we've made in U.S.-Indian
relations under the visionary leadership of President Bush and
Prime Minister Singh."
"I think this is a relationship that is now – has now a
firm foundation to reach its full potential," she said. "In
bilateral terms, of course, the civil nuclear agreement is
important and I – but I think we can now draw a line under
that and talk about the breadth of this relationship."
"And really, in everything from defence cooperation to
educational cooperation to agricultural and economic
cooperation, this is a relationship that is very strong and
broad and deep. And it's, of course, a relationship that's
based first and foremost on values; the Indian and American
democracies, both great multi-ethnic democracies.
"With all of the excitement and cacophony that comes with
that, it is really an extraordinary moment for U.S.-Indian
relations," Rice said giving an overview of bilateral ties.
Rice said the two sides can now also move from this
foundation to global issues. "We are working together on
Afghanistan. We've worked together on humanitarian relief, as
evidenced in what we did at the time of the Indonesia events.
And there is much more that the United States and India can do
together.
"So I look forward to going and spending, unfortunately,
a short time in India. But I think it does show that the
relationship is now ready to move to this new level and to
exploit all the things that we can do together," she said.
The top administration was asked if the agreement with
India serve as a model for other countries that might do a
similar deal.
Describing India as "really sui generis", Rice said "it
is a state that has had – really, very good proliferation
record."
"Obviously it posed some challenges because of its
strategic nuclear programmes, but I think what you saw in the
I.A.E.A. Board of Governors, in the Nuclear Suppliers Group,
and ultimately, in the Congress, is a recognition of what
Mohamed (I.A.E.A. chief) ElBaradei has said, which is that
bringing India and Indian civil nuclear programmes and
facilities and their future into the I.A.E.A. framework is a
win for the proliferation regime as a whole."
"I think India is, in many ways, sui generis in that
regard," Rice added.
".... there are a lot of administrative details that
have to be worked out. This (the deal) was only passed in our
Congress two days ago. The President is looking forward to
signing the bill, sometime, I hope, in – very soon, because
we'll want to use it as an opportunity to thank all of the
people who have been involved in this.
"That means the U.S.-India – the Indian American
community, the U.S.-India business community, and the
diplomats and others who have been involved," Rice told
reporters on her way to India, according to a transcript
released by the State Department here.
Rice said the Bush administration is working through
administrative details but the more important thing now is to
look beyond the historic agreement to what else could be done
in the broad bilateral relationship.
"....I'm going to draw a line under this one way or
another, because this is now time – it's time to put the
historic agreement, say that that's done, and move on to what
else we can do, because we've got a very broad relationship.
It's got to be worked out at the last minute, because there
are so many administrative issues that we have to deal with,"
Rice said.
Elaborating, she said "... for instance, we have to
enroll the bill when it comes over from the Congress. So look,
the important thing about this trip is to talk about the next
steps in the U.S.-India relationship, not the last step...."
"The President does not have to sign before I sign (the
deal). But we're working through the details of this. I'll let
you know. But the whole purpose of this trip is to move
forward, not to look at where we are," Rice said.
The Secretary of State made it known that the views of
the United States on the issue of nuclear testing by India are
very clear; and that Washington will remain true to the
commitments of the Hyde Act as also to those made by President
George W. Bush to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
She stressed that the Bush administration is satisfied
with the commitments made by India on the participation of
American firms, especially on the issue of liability of
damage in the event of an accident.
"I think we've been very clear about U.S. views on this
issue (testing). The Indians have a lot at stake here. And
they have made very clear that what they want to do is they
want to move on to civil nuclear cooperation. And I think
they understand the grounds on which we've done this.
"The United States is going to remain true to its
commitments under the Hyde Act and true to the commitments
that President Bush has made to Prime Ministers Singh. And I
know that the Indians will do the same," Rice said.
The Secretary of State was asked on liability, limiting
damage if there Is an accident before U.S. businesses can
really benefit from this and when a convention on this would
be settled with India.
"We have a letter of intent from the Indians that we
believe is a very firm set of commitments and a framework for
making sure that our businesses can do business in India.
So I'm satisfied about the details of all of this. This
really is about administrative matters, not about the
substance of it," Rice replied.
Rice maintained that the purpose of her trip to India was
not to push the 'Buy American' angle. "You know, it's not. I'm
confident that the United States will - American companies
will compete with - we're free traders. And we believe that
American companies will compete.
"Now, what we have done, I think, is to demonstrate that
the United States was willing to take a strategic step that
has made it possible for India to enter a new realm in terms
of its ability to cooperate and to be integrated into what is
a global industry that is bigger than just nuclear reactors."
The State Department, meanwhile, clarified some procedural
steps that would have to be taken before civil nuclear trade
can commence with India. One of these being that after the
President signs the legislation into law he would have to make
a certification that it is the U.S. policy to work with N.S.G.
to further restrict transfers of equipment and technology
related to uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent
nuclear fuel.
"Before civil nuclear trade can commence with India, some
procedural actions must occur," the Department said.
The two countries "must sign the U.S.-India Agreement for
Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123
Agreement). This text has been finalised and initialled since
July 2007" and that the President must sign into law the
legislation recently passed by Congress approving the 123
Agreement," it said in a statement.
"After it becomes law, the President will make two
certifications required under the law: (1) that conclusion
and implementation of the agreement by its terms is consistent
with U.S. obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty; and (2) that it is the policy of the United States to
work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to further
restrict transfers of equipment and technology related to
uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel."
Following the certifications, it said, India and U.S.
will exchange diplomatic notes pursuant to Article 16(1) of
the 123 Agreement, thereby bringing the pact into force.
Speaking about nuclear technology and technological
cooperation, Rice said "there are a lot of associated
industries. And so I think the Indians recognise that the
United States took that strategic step and help India get
through the N.S.G. (Nuclear Suppliers Group) and the I.A.E.A.
(International Atomic Energy Agency) and so forth."
"But ultimately, what American companies are really
asking is an opportunity to demonstrate their capability and
what they can do. And that's what we expect that they will
do," she added.
In her opening remarks, Rice said that she is very much
looking forward to going to India "really to just affirm the
extraordinary progress that we've made in U.S.-Indian
relations under the visionary leadership of President Bush and
Prime Minister Singh."
"I think this is a relationship that is now – has now a
firm foundation to reach its full potential," she said. "In
bilateral terms, of course, the civil nuclear agreement is
important and I – but I think we can now draw a line under
that and talk about the breadth of this relationship."
"And really, in everything from defence cooperation to
educational cooperation to agricultural and economic
cooperation, this is a relationship that is very strong and
broad and deep. And it's, of course, a relationship that's
based first and foremost on values; the Indian and American
democracies, both great multi-ethnic democracies.
"With all of the excitement and cacophony that comes with
that, it is really an extraordinary moment for U.S.-Indian
relations," Rice said giving an overview of bilateral ties.
Rice said the two sides can now also move from this
foundation to global issues. "We are working together on
Afghanistan. We've worked together on humanitarian relief, as
evidenced in what we did at the time of the Indonesia events.
And there is much more that the United States and India can do
together.
"So I look forward to going and spending, unfortunately,
a short time in India. But I think it does show that the
relationship is now ready to move to this new level and to
exploit all the things that we can do together," she said.
The top administration was asked if the agreement with
India serve as a model for other countries that might do a
similar deal.
Describing India as "really sui generis", Rice said "it
is a state that has had – really, very good proliferation
record."
"Obviously it posed some challenges because of its
strategic nuclear programmes, but I think what you saw in the
I.A.E.A. Board of Governors, in the Nuclear Suppliers Group,
and ultimately, in the Congress, is a recognition of what
Mohamed (I.A.E.A. chief) ElBaradei has said, which is that
bringing India and Indian civil nuclear programmes and
facilities and their future into the I.A.E.A. framework is a
win for the proliferation regime as a whole."
"I think India is, in many ways, sui generis in that
regard," Rice added.
