Congman spells out 'priorities' if N-deal is to clinch

Washington, June 21: Chairman of the House International Relations Committee Henry Hyde has offered his version of the proposed legislation on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal for the mark-up hearing scheduled for June 28.

According to California Democrat Howard Berman, the Hyde proposal has already been circulated among the members of the US Congress and he has offered certain ''priorities'' to be added on to the Hyde's Bill to make it acceptable to all the lawmakers.

Mr Berman said his prorities, spelt out yesterday at a press conference sponsored by the Arms Control Association, was to rectify the ''flawed deal'' to ensure that US nonproliferation goals are not undermined.

He said if the ''priorities'' are not included in the Hyde proposal, he would offer them as amendments at the time of the mark-up hearing on the legislation. These ''priorities'', he said, are necessary if India is to get civilian nuclear technology.

Mr Berman's ''priorities'' include that the mark-up legislation must have specific language on India halting fissile material production and the Congress heving the right to further amend the 123 agreement between India and the United States through an affirmation vote.

Moreover, India's safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should be consistent with the standard practices of the nuclear watchdog. He wants inclusion of specific language for clear termination requirements (of the civilian nuclear accord) in case India assumes further testing of nuclear weapons or violates IAEA safeguards.

Mr Berman also wants all third party transfers of nuclear technology to be consistent with American laws.

Mr Berman, who has himself introduced a Bill -- HR 5430, seeking to establish sound criteria for civilian nuclear cooperation with certain countries -- said he was pro-India and had always favoured good relations with the Asian country. But, he said he has to be realistic since India also has nuclear weapons and has not signed the NPT.

''I also believe it would be shortsighted to rule out civilian nuclear cooperation with India, especially in the light of its increasing need for energy. But, I have serious concerns about the specific deal we are being asked to support.'' First of all, the California Democrat said, he disagreed with the Bush administration's argument that the deal is ''a net plus for nonproliferation.'' On the contrary, he said, one can make a strong argument that changing long-established and almost universally accepted rules to accommodate one country -- without a compelling nonproliferation ''gain'' on the other side of the ledger -- could undermine US efforts to prevent the spread of sensitive nuclear technology.

Mr Berman said this view is shared by the vast majority of nonproliferation experts, both liberal and conservative, including important officials from the Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush and Clinton administrations.

He also said he was particularly concerned that the agreement does nothing to limit India's production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

In fact, it would enable India to significantly expand its production of plutonium, because ''by allowing India to import uranium to fuel its civilian nuclear plants'' it could devote all of its scarce domestic uranium supply to weapons production, Mr Berman contended.

India's top nuclear strategists have endorsed the deal for precisely this reason, Mr Berman pointed out.

UNI

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