US: Burns yet to finalise his visit to India

Washington, May 30: US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns appears to have yet not firmed up his travel plan to India where, as reported, he is scheduled to try to resolve the differences between the two countries over the civilian nuclear deal.

An indication to this effect was given by State Department"s Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey at the Department"s regular press briefing yesterday.

In reply to a question about Burns" possible travel plan to India, Casey, said, "As far as I know, while he"s spoken about his willingness to go to India if it"s appropriate to continue those discussions on India"s nuclear deal, I don"t believe that he"s scheduled a trip there as of yet." Casey, said, "Well, Nick (Nicholas Burns), as far as I know, was with the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the plane headed to Berlin for G-8 meetings." When asked if he was just coming back from Europe after this trip, Casey replied: ""I certainly know if there is a reason for him to go later this week or next week, then he will certainly do so. I know originally, they were hoping to have him go out somewhere in the next couple of weeks, but there"s no confirmed travel plans at this point." Media reports from New Delhi, quoting "officials" had said that Burns was scheduled to reach India on May 31" for talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on the 123 agreement, a prerequisite for the implementation of the civilian nuclear deal.

The reports had also said that Burns would meet Indian officials to hammer out language to implement the deal which was agreed on during President Bush"s visit to India last year.

The contentious issues appear to be India"s insistence to retain its right to undertake a nuclear test, if the security situation so demands, and reprocessing of spent fuel.

However, Burns, in a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank, here early this month, had said that both sides had resolved 90 per cent of the differences that had existed over the deal.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India David Mulford, in an interview to the Wall Street Journal, said he expected that India and the US would surmount most of the major obstacles during two days of talks scheduled to start Friday in New Delhi.

Mr Mulford acknowledged the two sides must still work through some "deeply political issues," but he said, "We have been very anxious to take the next step."

UNI

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