Menon begins talks with US officials on nuke deal

Washington, Apr 30 (UNI) Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon began his two-day talks with US officials here today, apparently in a bid to break the stalemate on the proposed 123 agreement - a prerequisite for the implementation of the civilian nuclear deal.

However, tomorrow will see the crucial round of talks when Mr Menon meets Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns who had publicly voiced "frustration" at the slow pace of negotiations.

Mr Menon is also scheduled to hold discussions with Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and some other officials. Their discussion will continue at a "working dinner" hosted by Burns.

The current round of discussion has acquired significance in view of the failure of the experts of the two countries to make any headway during their talks at Cape Town, South Africa, early this month.

Their inability to reach a decision necessitated the "political level" talks that brought Mr Menon here and indications are that he will make some suggestion to break the stalemate as both sides want to avoid failure.

The stalemate appears to be over India's insistence to retain its right to conduct nuclear tests, if necessary, in future. The US is, however, in no mood to accept it as it calls for an amendment to the American non-proliferation laws. India has also asserted that its right over reprocessing spent fuel is not negotiable and both the sides are trying to narrow down the differences on this matter as well.

Washington, for the time being, appears to be unwilling to accommodate the Indian demand.

Meanwhile, Burns, in an article published in yesterday's Washington Post, has said that the US considers the nuclear deal, approved overwhemingly by the US Congress, as the centrepiece of warmer realtions with India.

"When fully implemented in 2008, this initiative will permit American and international companies to begin peaceful civilian nuclear cooperation with India for the first time in more than a generation, he goes on to write adding, " this would bring India out of its self-imposed isolation and into the international non-proliferation mainstream." Nicholas Burns has made out a strong case for more military and foreign policy cooperation with India, predicting New Delhi will become a main US strategic partner in the coming generation.

UNI