Kakodkar confident of nuclear deal coming through

Bangalore, Feb 18 (UNI) Atomic Energy Commission Chief and Department of Atomic Energy Secretary Anil Kakodkar today expressed confidence in India signing the nuclear deal with the United States.

Dr Kakodkar said, ''I am always positive in this regard. The delay in signing the agreement is mainly due to technical process which, as usual, takes a long time since we have to study the agreement keeping in view the benefits the country can achieve.'' When asked if time was running out as US President George W Bush's tenure was coming to an end, he said ''well, the point is we have to get it done as early as possible.

''But at the same time, it has to be correctly done and meet all the requirements. So, it is a long technical process and several steps have to be passed through before signing.'' Asked if there was pressure from the US to sign the deal in a sense of ''take it or not'' as reported in a section of the press, Dr Kakodkar clarified ''there is nothing like that.

''There is a step-by-step process we have to go through. We have to take everybody on board.

''I believe in positive movement forward. I have been telling we should move forward, step by step, keeping in view the interest of the country.'' Dr Kakodkar was speaking to newsmen after inaugurating a training programme on 'Energy Security and Management' organised by the Nationl Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) here.

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