US swears by nuclear deal

We are committed to all remaining elements

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said President Barack Obama’s administration was not opposed to transfer of ENR technology if it was done through “appropriate channels” and under internationally recognised safeguards.

“We have just completed a civil nuclear deal with India. So if it (transfer of ENR technology) is done within the appropriate channels and carefully safeguarded, as it is in the case of India, that is appropriate,” said Clinton, launching the new strategic partnership with India.

She was addressing a joint news-conference with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna at the end of her three-day maiden tour to India as the Secretary of State.

She also reaffirmed the Obama Administration’s commitment to completing “all remaining elements” of the nuke deal with India.  

Krishna earlier said that Clinton was “one of the key supporters” of the Indo-US nuke deal, which was “realised through a bipartisan effort in the US Congress and the desire to add qualitative substance” to the bilateral relationship.

Clinton’s words are intended to allay concerns in New Delhi over the recent G8 statement that effectively blocked sale of the sensitive ENR technology from any of the eight members in the grouping to a country that has not yet signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT. India is not among the signatories of the NPT and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and New Delhi maintains that both are discriminatory in nature. 

Meeting in Vienna today

Hillary’s assurance came just ahead of the negotiations between New Delhi and Washington on reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The officials of both countries are set to meet in Vienna on Tuesday to start the negotiations.

Clinton, however, added that Washington was “very much opposed to unauthorised and inappropriate” transfers of nuclear technology and materials that “unfortunately can take place” with the involvement of “certain countries or non-state actors.  There is a right way of doing it (transfers of sensitive nuclear technologies) and there is also a very wrong way to do it,” she said.

Though the new regime in Washington was expected to put more pressure on New Delhi to sign the NPT and CTBT, Clinton just said that the United States was “seeking advice and suggestion from India about how we can prevent the unauthorised and dangerous transfer of nuke technology and material that poses a threat to the entire world.”

The visiting United States Secretary of State wrapped up her tour to India with an hour-long meet with  External Affairs Minister.

Krishna said that the agenda of parleys reflected the global dimension of Indo-US partnership.  “We have created new forums for meaningful dialogue on climate change, disarmament and non-proliferation. We also recognise the importance of ensuring that the steps planned to revive the global economy should safeguard the priorities of sustainable development and the goals of poverty alleviation in the developing world,” he said.

Krishna and Clinton also reaffirmed the unequivocal commitment of both countries to resist the threats to our two democracies from the scourge of terrorism.

Manmohan to be first state guest  of Obama

NEW DELHI, dhns: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday extended an invitation from President Barack Obama to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Washington on November 24 next.

If Singh accepts the invitation, his will be the first state visit by a foreign dignitary to the US after the change of regime in Washington.

Clinton met the prime minister on Monday afternoon to extend the invitation.  That President Obama invited Singh to be first state guest of his administration indicates the importance that the United States attaches with its relationship with India, she told journalists.