Us wants India to speed up with 123 agreement

New Delhi, Apr 6 (UNI) The United States has asked India to ''speed up its part of the job'' on the 123 agreement for full implementation of the civilian nuclear agreement, saying it had fulfilled its own commitments.

However, India says it cannot be rushed into anything.

Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon held discussions with US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Richard Boucher here yesterday, and reviewed the progress on the 123 agreement.

Mr Boucher said the US is carrying through all its commitments and is ready to conclude the deal before the Presidential elections next year. It is now for India to complete its part.

Mr Boucher, who was in India representing the US as 'Observer' at the 14th SAARC Summit of Heads of State/Government on April 3-4, expressed concern that the pace of the deal was slowing down.

Along with the US, the European Union (EU), China, Japan and south Korea also attended the Summit as 'Observers.' ''We are anxious to make progress...,'' Mr Boucher told CNN-IBN in an interview.

UNI