US hopes to move on N-deal with India

Washington, Aug 21: The Bush Administration is coordinating with India and the American Congress, hoping to move forward on the US-India civil nuclear agreement, currently a subject of bitter controversy in India's political circles.

''I think that, obviously, this is an important agreement that we believe will help India reduce its energy shortfall and will allow Indians to gain access to advanced technologies that will improve their daily lives,'' said, Gonzalo R Gallegos, Director, Office of Press Relations, in the State Department.

''So we're working towards that end, coordinate with the Indians, coordinate with our Congress, and we hope to move forward on it,'' Gallegos said, in reply to a question during the Department's routine daily briefing yesterday.

When asked to comment on the opposition offered to the deal by the left parties, which are part of the ruling coalition, Gallegos said, ''well, we don't have any specific comments on discussions within India about the agreement.'' ''This is a determination for the Indians to make and we're going to be working with them to hopefully see this to fruition,'' he said.

Gallegos avoided questions relating to the controversy in India over its right to conduct nuclear tests under the 123 agreement which is being interpreted differently in different circles.

He said, ''I think Sean [State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack] spoke to that the other day. I'm going to go ahead it's on the record.

You have the transcript from that. I'm going to go ahead and leave it at that. I don't really have anything different or additional to add to that.'' McCormack had said that under the agreement all cooperation would come to an end if India conducted a nuclear test.

However, if the agreement, signed in two years ago, comes into effect, India will have access to US nuclear fuel and technology and in return it will accept international inspection on its non-military nuclear facilities.

UNI