US Cong likely to clear 'N' Bill within 36 hours

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Bill to amend US laws to implement the India-US Nuclear deal is likely to be cleared by the Congress within 36 hours and the agreement will be fully implemented in 2007 ''within the parameters'' of the July 18, 2005, agreement, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said here today.

Mr Burns who was addressing a press conference jointly with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon after their ''very productive, very friendly and very constructive talks'' on a wide range of issues, said ''we hope and expect that in 36 hours or so, it will be sent to President (George) Bush for signing and making it a law.'' He also assured that the US stood by all the commitments made in the July 18, 2005, agreement between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush and it would be within the parameters of that agreement.

Mr Burns who arived here last night for talks with Indian officials, held discussions with Mr Menon on various issues of bilateral, regional and international interest including counter-terrorism, trade and economy, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Science and Technology, Agriculture etc.

They also discussed the situation in West Asia, efforts for peace in Sri Lanka and Nepal and political stability in Bangladesh.

Mr Burns also met Mr Shyam Saran, Advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement and discussed the latest developments in the matter.

The agreement which sets the stage for ending India's 30-year nuclear isolation, was to have been voted upon by the US House of Representatives last night but was held up.

Sources said the Bill was held up because one of the 12 Members opposed and wanted other issues to be carried on simultaneously.

To a question on Iran, Mr Burns said while Iran had a right to develop civilian nuclear energy for developmental purposes, the US did not want to see a nuclear weapons power in the region.

He said both India and the US had been part of the global effort against Iran going nuclear and also have been in the mainstream of international opinion.

Pointing out that India had a ''very responsible'' policy on Iran, he said he did not expect any major chages.

He said it was important that Iran was given a clear message on its nuclear weapons programme while calling for a ''peaceful and diplomatic solution'' to the stalemate.

The Foreign Secretary said Mr Burns and Mr Saran discussed the nuclear understanding between the two countries and were now awaiting the outcome of the Congress deliberations. He said the overall India-US relations were in the ''process of transformation'' and nuclear cooperation was just one part. Both were euphoric about the relationship between the two countries that had developed during the past year.

Asked about New Delhi's concerns on end use monitoring and an annual certification by the US President that India is complying with non-proliferation commitments, Mr Menon said the Bill operationalises the intent of the Prime Minister and President Bush in the agreement which assures clean and cheaper energy.

Describing the discussions as ''very productive'' which touched upon bilateral relations and regional and international issues, Mr Menon said the atmosphere at the talks was ''very positive, very constructive and very forward looking.'' Both countries were now expanding the ''horizons of their cooperation.'' ''Overall, the Indo-US relations are in the process of transformation.'' Mr Burns, who is Washington's top negotiator on the civilian nuclear deal, said both were trying to fulfil the commitment of the ''great relationship'' that had established between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush.

He said 2007 was going to be ''a very active year'' for the civilian nuclear agreement and both needed to look at areas that could be done together. These included counter-terrorism as both countries were victims of the scourge.

He also supported he India-Pakistan peace efforts.

Asked whether India would clear the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) hurdle, Mr Burns hoped that most NSG countries would support India.

The support of the 45-nation NSG, a powerful nuclear lobby, is crucial for implementation of the Nuclear agreement.

Mr Burns maintained that they had not seen the final Bill but said that there was very strong bipartisan support to it within the Congress. ''I am going to be very optimistic... Congress has acted in a very supportive way,'' he added.

He said the US had thought that it was the right strategy to ''break all barriers'' and bring India into the mainstream ending 30 years of nuclear isolation. ''It is a special arrangement that we have worked out and on that basis we are moving forward,'' he said.

Responding to the reports of criticism of the deal, Mr Burns said the US had canged the past 30 years of policy and sometimes change was difficult for some people to understand.

''It is time that India is allowed to have its own way in civilian nclear energy,'' Mr Burns said.

UNI