Nuclear deal with US based on reciprocal commitments : India

New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) India today said the Civilian Nuclear agreement with the US would have to be based on reciprocal commitments incorporated in the July 18, 2005, Joint Statement and the elements contained in the Separation Plan.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman, while replying to a question on US Senator Tom Lantos' statement, said New Delhi had been negotiating the nuclear deal with the US Administration on the premise that it is an agreement about civil nuclear energy cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit.

The Bush Administration has the responsibility for bringing about a change in US legislation to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Mr Lantos, a Democrat, who has co-authored the Bill aimed at implementing the Nuclear deal, has warned that if India wanted the US Congress to give a green signal to the agreement, it should not associate with anti-US statements on Iran at a forum like the NAM.

''There have been a number of US Senators and Congressmen who have expressed different views concerning the Indo-US nuclear agreement,'' the spokesman said.

The agreement would have to be based on the reciprocal commitments incorporated in the Indo-US Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, and the elements contained in India's Separation Plan which was submitted to Parliament on March 11.

''This is our understanding with the US Administration which has the responsibility for bringing about a change in US legislation to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation between our two countries,'' the spokesman added.

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