No law change in Indian nuclear talks |
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Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:47
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration will not change U.S. law to meet Indian demands in negotiations over a civilian nuclear agreement between the two countries, the State Department said Thursday.President Bush last year agreed to an exception to U.S. law that would allow the shipment of civilian nuclear fuel to India. Several obstacles block nuclear trade, however, including current technical negotiations between the countries on an overall cooperation agreement.'When you are blazing a trail on an issue, and there's not a body of work or a history or a precedent to fall back on, every issue becomes important for one side or the other,' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. 'But, at the end of the day, I think we are going to get this done.'He was asked whether India was pressing the U.S. to change its insistence that nuclear cooperation be contingent on India's avoidance of further nuclear weapons tests. 'Inasmuch as it bumps up against U.S. law, we are not going to be able to change our law,' McCormack said.Congress must approve an overall agreement. Also, India must reach agreement with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.Once ratification is completed, U.S. civilian nuclear trade with India will be permitted in exchange for safeguards and U.N. inspections at India's 14 civilian nuclear plants. India's eight military plants will be off limits.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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India, US in crucial talks on nuclear deal 