Successful conclusion of nuke deal with India: US

Washington, July 18: The Bush Administration has voiced confidence about the successful conclusion of the 123 agreement, a pre-requisite for the Indo-US nuclear deal, as their top officials began deliberations here to sort out their differences.

''We believe that we can get a deal, we can get an agreement. I think it really comes down to a matter of timing; when is that going to get done? This meeting will provide us a good indicator as to the answer to the question when can we get that deal done?'' State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack made this statement here yesterday when high-level delegations of the two countries were in the midst of their discussions on the contentious issues, including India's insistence to retain its right to test nuclear device, if necessary, and reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

When asked how the two countries intended to resolve the long-standing differences on these issues, McCormack said, "We'll see. We'll see in the coming hours and over the next couple of days." The meetings were scheduled for today as well as tomorrow.

We would see if we could bridge the differences, the spokesman said, adding ''there is certainly a willingness on our part to work in a constructive manner to get a deal done and I suspect that you would hear the same thing from our Indian partners.'' When asked whether India had suggested any way out of the stalemate, Mr McCormack replied ''you can ask them (Indians) where they stand.'' Earlier, the State Department Spokesman said the two sides would ''take stock of where we are in negotiating the so-called 123 agreement. This is a serious high-level delegation.'' He further said ''I think they might also have some other meetings around town and it's really to try to make a push to get this agreement over the finish line. There are a couple tough issues that we have left to resolve.'' India's National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, who had an unscheduled meeting with Defence Secretary Bob Gates on Monday, will have discussions with his US counter parts Stephen Hadley today.

Led by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, the Indian delegation comprised Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission in Washington Raminder Jassal, India's High Commissioner in Singapore S Jaishankar, India's Atomic Energy Commission official R B Grover, Joint Secretary in the American Division of the Ministry of External Affairs Gaitri Kunar and Director in the Prime Minister's Office Venkatesh Varma.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns led the US team which included Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher.

Both sides met at a dinner hosted by Mr Burns last night.

UNI