Lantos welcomes Consensus on Indo-US nuke bill

Washington, Dec 8: US Congressman Tom Lantos, the ranking memberof the House International Relations Committee, has welcomed theconsensus reached in the conference committee on the report pertainingto the legislation which seeks to implement the India-US nuclearcooperation agreement.

The agreement will be known as the ''Henry J Hyde India-UnitedStates Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006.'' Mr Hyde isoutgoing chairman of the House International Relations Committee.

In a statement, Mr Lantos said, ''this latest step in a long andsometimes arduous legislative process has resulted in a satisfyingconsensus. It is in the interest of both the US and India to strengthenour ties and to nurture the nascent partnership between the two greatcountries.

''We now have the opportunity to achieve a geostrategicrealignment of India with the United States. This will be of immenseimportance to global security and economic development, while at thesame time furthering our interests in limiting the spread of nuclearweapons,'' he said.

The Democratic lawmaker said, ''the conference report agreementstrikes the right balance between giving the President the necessaryflexibility to negotiate the best agreement possible with New Delhi,while at the same time preserving Congressional oversight. I fullyexpect this will be a law, of which, all involved in its creation canbe proud.'' Mr Lantos has been one the main forces working towardsuccessful Congressional review and approval of the India-US civiliannuclear agreement since it was first announced. In the last few days,he has played a pivotal role in bridging the gaps among differingprovisions in the House and Senate versions of the bill.

UNI

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