Nicolas Burns to hold talks on N issue tomorrow

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) Indian and US officials wil meet here tomorrow for discussions on the Civilian Nuclear Agreement which has entered a crucial phase.

US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Nicolas Burns, who arrives here tonight, will seek to allay New Delhi's concerns over the version of the legislation adopted by the US Senate.

Mr Burns who will be here for three days, will meet Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Mr Shyam Saran, Advisor on the Indo-US Nuclear deal, official sources here said today.

The Nuclear deal which is at a crucial stage, needs US Congressional clearance before it is signed by President George Bush. The Bush Administration will have to change a law to enable the deal to clear major legal hurdles in the US.

Mr Burns has expressed the hope that the House and the Senate negotiators would be able to draw up a compromise version of the legislation which is acceptable to both the countries.

The US Senate last month voted 85 to 12 to exempt India from the nuclear-trade restrictions under the US Atomic Energy Act (USAEA) in that country.

The USAEA prohibits US institutions and companies from trading nuclear equipment, materials, and technology with countries which have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

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