PM expresses concerns over Indo-US nuke deal

St Petersburg, July 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today forcefully conveyed to US President George W Bush, India's ''concerns'' over certain aspects of the proposed American law to ratify the July 18, 2005 Indo-US nuclear deal.

Making an opening statement before going into their talks on the sidelines of the G8 summit, Dr Singh said, ''I sincerely believe that the two countries could find constructive solutions to and a permanent reconciliation on the nuclear issue.'' Dr Singh said his government was accountable to Parliament which zealously kept a close watch on ''what we do and don't do'' for taking forward the nuclear deal for cooperation in civilian energy and as such it was necessary to allay the apprehensions of the law makers before getting down to finally implementing the deal.

Though the Prime Minister did not specify the concerns, these have been articulated earlier by the government as well as the opposition and Left parties. These include the out-of-line demands on India's nuclear policy such as seeking New Delhi's ''full and active participation with the US to dissuade, isolate, and, if necessary, sanction and contain Iran.'' The Prime Minister was assisted during the meeting by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Ms Sujata Mehta, Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office.

President Bush was assisted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and others during the talks.

The draft US Bill, already approved by the US Senate and House committees and awaiting the final Congress nod, also talks of a placing a ''moratorium on fissile material production for weapons use in India, at the earliest date.'' Further, it calls for ''achieving, at the earliest date, the conclusion of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) to which both the US and India can become parties.

Another concern is the attempt to secure India's full participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and a formal commitment to its interdiction principles.

Dr Singh acknowledged that the administrations of India and the US were ''working hard to give meaning and substance'' to the deal. Looking at Mr Bush, the Prime Minister said ''your efforts in getting the legislation for cooperation moving towards progress'' were laudable. ''We deeply appreciate your personal involvement and magnificent efforts for getting the deal through.'' The Prime Minister also thanked Mr Bush for expressing 'outrage' at the July 11 blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar which claimed the lives of over 200 civilians and left 800 people injured.

He acknowledged that the two countries had set ''new goal posts'' by working together since Mr Bush's visit to India in March this year.

''We are making progress.'' The business communities of the two countries were engaged in stepping up the trade volume and were giving a number of new ideas for attracting more and more investments, he said.

He also appreciated Mr Bush's initiative for helping India launch the second Green Revolution. ''We have agreed on a new roadmap for agriculture, education, food processing and other related areas which would be in focus and receive the active support.'' The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the fact that India and New Delhi were working together in the field of science and technology.

In his brief opening statement, Mr Bush raised the issue of the West Asia conflict, blaming Syria and Iran for the flare-up. ''We have to work together to restore peace in the region by addressing the issues involved,'' he said. The US President also talked about the Doha round of WTO negotiations on international trade, which were stalled at the G6 trade ministers' meet at Geneva recently, over US refusal to bring down domestic subsidy for agriculture, and developing countries' reluctance to cut tariff on farm and industrial products.

Mr Bush said he was ''optimistic'' of overcoming the obstacles and putting in place an international trading system.

The opening statements, made at Konstantinovsy Place Complex, were carried by television.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran later told reporters that Mr Bush said the US waiver Bill for providing nuclear technology, fuel and plant and machinery to India was in the process of getting the Congress approval.

Dr Singh had told reporters yesterday that he would take up with Mr Bush the need for the G8 and the rest of the global community to treat terrorism with zero tolerance irrespective of the region affected by the scourge.

UNI