Next US vote on India nuke deal maybe in December

WASHINGTON, Nov 17: The US Congress, following a strong Senate vote, aims to complete work in early December on legislation to allow nuclear cooperation with India for the first time in three decades.

An overwhelming majority has now endorsed separate versions of the bill in both the Senate and US House of Representatives, although different wording, including on nuclear-armed India's ties to Iran, could cause problems.

Still, supporters are optimistic the bills can be reconciled in negotiations between the two chambers and given final passage before the ''lame duck'' Republican-led Congress surrenders power to Democrats in January.

''I am confident that we can now work closely with our colleagues in the House to get this important measure to the President (George W Bush) as swiftly as possible,'' Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, said in a statement after yesterday's 85-12 Senate vote.

The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency still have to approve the agreement that would allow New Delhi to purchase US nuclear fuel, reactors and related technology.

The US Congress gets another chance to vote on the deal, probably next year, because it must approve technical details.

President Bush and his administration argue nuclear cooperation is essential to relations between the world's largest democracies that will be pillars of security in the 21st century.

Opponents contend the agreement harms US security by allowing New Delhi to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal, by fostering an arms race in Asia among India and nuclear rivals Pakistan and China and by undermining decades of US non-proliferation policy.

Reuters

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