India's concerns on Indo-US deal have been met: Sen

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Oct 9 (PTI) Describing the U.S. President's
signing into law the legislation on the nuclear deal as a "new
beginning" in bilateral ties, India has said its concerns on
certain provisions of the bill have been met with George W.
Bush's assurance on fuel supplies and 'advanced consent' to it
for reprocessing.

"Absolutely", remarked Indian Ambassador to the U.S.,
Ronen Sen, when asked by reporters if the President's address
at the signing of the legislation met all of India's concerns.

"I think the statement (of Bush) speaks for itself... all
concerns that have been expressed who fear the implications of
certain elements of the legislation. All those have been met,"
Sen said in response to a query on fuel supply assurances.

Bush, while signing the HR 7081 bill into law Wednesday
night, had said there were "no changes" in fuel supply
commitments as provided in the 123 Agreement and added India
had also been granted "advanced consent" for reprocessing.

There were fears that the legislation as approved by the
Congress may have a couple of riders regarding fuels supplies.

"I am confident because we negotiated the 123 Agreement
with great care and I was confident right from the beginning
that many of concerns that had been expressed would be met
like they have been in the past," the top Indian envoy said
shortly after Bush signed the nuclear deal Bill into law.

The top Indian diplomat was pressed on about the fear
that Washington could approach others in the Nuclear Suppliers
Group to cut off fuel in the event of an atomic test by India.

"I think we can keep on having questions and discussions
repeatedly. I feel we should be a little more confident of
ourselves. We should have a little bit more self esteem and we
should not always require these re-assurances. We should grow
up... I feel this very strongly," Sen replied.

"This President has exceeded our expectations on each and
every issue. I firmly believe this President has contributed
in an extraordinary manner. He would be remembered in history
as opening up a new chapter in our relationship," Sen said.

The Indian envoy said the ties between the countries have
now truly transformed into a strategic partnership in "every
sense of the word".

"This is a beginning in a way. It is a successful
conclusion of a process that had often been tortuous and some
people had doubts at times -- genuine doubts and genuine
concerns. And there has been a debate in our country which has
been a serious debate. But at the end of it we have in a sense
reached a conclusion of this process," the Ambassador said.

"We are not quite there. The final will be the signing of
this agreement which will essentially represent commitments of
the two countries," Sen said. External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee will sign the agreement Friday with Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice at the State department.

"This is a new beginning where we will have a door opened
which will lead to more doors and windows of opportunity and
that process will continue. In that sense there is much we can
do to build upon this agreement which will provide us new
opportunities in the field of energy that will not only
address our energy security concern but also mark the end of a
broader technology denial regime that has been in place for
more than three decades," Ambassador Sen said.

"So in that sense both in the bilateral context and the
global context it opens up many new avenues. All these will
directly benefit the people of India and contribute to the
well being of all citizens of our country," he added.