'No shifting of goalposts in Indo-US Nuke Deal'

New Delhi, Jul 27: In consonance with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assertion, the United States today affirmed that it had ''not moved goal posts'' on the nuclear deal between the two countries and Washington stood by the sentiments of the July 18, 2005, Joint Statement.

''There has not been any moving of the goalposts. I challenge anybody to show me anything which is not consistent with the July 18 Joint Statement...It will not impose any additional burden on India,'' US Charge d'Affairs in New Delhi Geoff Pyatt said at a press conference.

The Prime Minister had said in Rajya Sabha this morning that there was no moving of ''goal posts'' and whatever would be done on the nuclear agreement, would be within the parametres of the July 18 Joint Statement.

Earlier, in a landmark development last night, the US House of Representatives extended support to the Indo-US nuclear deal, paving way for the flow of sensitive American nuclear technology and equipment to India after soundly rejecting some last minute ''killer amendments'' to scuttle the deal.

The legislation, H R 5682 - India-US Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006, lifts a 30-year ban on India and was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 359 to 68 votes.

Before US President George Bush signs the measure into a law, the Bill has to be approved by the US Senate, which according to observers, is just a formality.

Describing yesterday's approval by the House of Representatives as a major victory for the (Bush) Administration Mr Pyatt said the partnership and understanding between the two governments was ''quite profound'' and had the prospects of emerging strong in the future.

''We are talking about a long-term partnership in which the US wants to play a prominent role...There is enormous convergence of American and Indian interests that will go into building a strong future partnership,'' he said.

Asserting that President Bush had announced he would stand by the agreement, Mr Pyatt dismissed media reports expressing apprehensions about the deal and said India was not a ''target'' but a ''partner'' for the US. ''The thrust of the Bill is to identify India as a partner,'' he added. Replying to questions, the US official said the next meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the 45-nation powerful nuclear lobby whose approval is crucial for the implementation of the nuclear deal, would be held in October.

''We are optimistic we will see some future progress...The NSG works by consensus...Key NSG members, like Germany, have come out with open support...We have got pretty good movement with the NSG,'' he said.

UNI

Related Stories