Zeenews Bureau
Washington, Aug 05: With the IAEA having approved the India specific safeguards agreement and the NSG hopefully approving specific waivers, the US has fast-tracked the Indo-US nuke deal with the state department on Tuesday announcing that the deal will be tabled for congressional approval on September 08. Stressing the need for a speedy implementation of the deal, US added that it is needed for the strengthening of the bilateral trade between the countries and more importantly for the nuclear security of the world.
"....hopefully, we'll be able to represent this to
Congress on September 8", the Acting US State Department
Spokesman Gonzalo Gonzales said.
He said the US was looking forward to discussing the
Indo-US civilian nuclear initiative with the 45-member Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG), which is expected to meet in Vienna on
August 21.
"...we've stated often... our support for this deal and
the belief that it's important not only for the bilateral
relationship but also for nuclear security in the rest of the
world.
"But now that the IAEA has voted, we're going to look to
discuss this issue with the members of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group. We're hoping to get a positive result out of that some
time in the next month," Gonzales said.
"And then, hopefully, we'll be able to represent this to
Congress on September 8," he added in a reference to the date
lawmakers are returning for their session after the summer
recess period.
The senior State department official was asked if the
Bush administration would be able to have this initiative
finished by Congress by the time it wraps up the session on
September 26.
"... we're going to be working with our contacts on
the (Capitol) Hill to explain why we believe this is
important. And, hopefully, we'll be able to have a positive
outcome of this," Gonzales said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy
Pelosi, has said that she is staying with the September 26 as
the target adjournment date and the Senate Majority leader
Harry Reid too could be adopting this timeline for the Senate.
Pelosi has given every indication that Democrats are not
inclined for a Lame-Duck session after the November four
elections but nothing definitive on this has emerged.
Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher had said in
Colombo on Sunday that the US would push through
"expeditiously" the NSG process but added that India
would have to answer "a lot of questions" to secure a waiver
from the bloc.
Describing the IAEA's approval of the India-specific
safeguards pact on august one as a "major step", Boucher had
said that "now the next step is the NSG."
"If we could do that (NSG process) expeditiously we can
deliver the package to the US Congress in September. We have a
lot to do in short term. We hope we can bring it to fruition,"
Boucher said.
"Well by the time we get to the Nuclear Suppliers Group,
we hope no country will object. It is simply a process we
have been working on with countries who had questions and are
getting those questions answered," said Boucher, who was in
the Sri Lankan capital as an observer to the regional SAARC
summit.
The speeding up of the process by the Bush administration is in line with the wider view prevalent in Washington that the deal is being pushed to ensure that President Bush has his legacy before he demits office.
Moreover, the deal with India has a better chance within this Congress as around 85% of House has been in its favour –something that might change after the new Congress takes charge along with a new President.
Also, the US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has made it clear that the House may not convene in December after the winter recess.
Moreover, the US nuclear industry is also pressing for a speedy clearance by the Congress so that they can start nuke trade with India on an immediate basis. They obviously have their sense of urgency because, technically, the moment India gets a waiver from NSG it can start trading with its member countries, something the US industry also wants to be part of before others like France and Russia take any advantage.
First Published: Tuesday, August 05, 2008, 00:00