NY think tank report seeks ratification of Indo-US nuke deal

New York, June 12 (UNI) The Council on Foreign Relations, joining a chorus of voices, has urged the US Congress to ratify the civilian nuclear deal signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush between India and the US.

The New York-based think tank in a report, titled ''US-India Nuclear Cooperation: A Strategy for Moving Forward,'' said a two-stage approach to the issue is needed: endorse the basic framework, but delay final approval until it is assured nonproliferation issues are met.

The report has been prepared by Michael A Levi and Charles D Ferguson-both fellows at the council in science and technology.

''Patience and a few simple fixes would address major proliferation concerns while ultimately strengthening the strategic partnership,'' the report said.

Both explain in the report that the deal, which allows nuclear cooperation for the first time in more than three decades, will ensure a stronger bilateral partnership. The American foreign policy goal of bolstering democracy will sound hollow, if it does not ensure deeper relationship with the world's largest democracy.

''American exclusion of India from nuclear commerce has long grated on New Delhi, proving an irritant in the bilateral relationship, and removing this point of friction would no doubt strengthen the relationship,'' the report said.

The report released last week calls on the US Congress and the Bush administration to focus on five principles as the basic framework for solidifying the nuke-deal cooperation should end, if New Delhi breaks moratorium on nuclear testing; the administration should ensure that India's nuclear export controls be strengthened by even providing financial aid through American experts; American legislation should provide incentives to steer New Delhi in the right direction; there should be no annual review of the deal on the part of America; and Congress should accept the fact that New Delhi will not unilaterally cap its nuclear arsenal.

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