Better to move N-accord at the earliest: US
As the UPA government came under Left pressure for putting on hold implementation of Indo-US nuclear deal for six months, the United States said it is better to move the accord as soon as possible keeping the political timelines in mind.
By PTI |
WASHINGTON: As the UPA government came under Left pressure for putting on hold implementation of Indo-US nuclear deal for six months, the United States on Wednesday said it is better to move the accord as soon as possible keeping the political timelines in mind.
"We are seeing a certain political debate and discussion going on in India and discussion for the passage of the legislation in the United States (where) we have to go back to Congress for another round of legislation but after we complete certain number of steps," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher said.
"I don't think we should be too surprised to see that there is legitimate debate and discussion about this," he said at a meeting organised at the Capitol Hill by the United States India Business Alliance.
"We also know we have political timetables and it is better to move this as soon as possible," the senior administration official said.
Describing the accord as "fundamentally good", Boucher said "it was an agreement that was carefully negotiated to meet all the requirements of US laws".
The 123 Agreement will have to go through a number of other steps such as India coming to an arrangement with the International Atomic Energy Agency as well as meeting "the democratic process of both countries," he noted.
Boucher maintained that the agreement is consistent with US laws, but at the same time, also fits the parameters of what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush agreed on.
The senior official was asked during the interactive session if the 123 Agreement supercedes the Hyde Act.
"We have met all the requirements of the Hyde Act; non-binding things I have to go back and see to what extent they are met. We don't see anything in the Hyde Act that constrains our relationship, the kind of relationship that we've reached," Boucher said.
"The 123 Agreement is subsequent to the passage of the Hyde Act. We think it's in full conformity with the Hyde Act. The deal between the United States and India is the 123 Agreement... those are all the operative clauses, all the operative paragraphs. The understandings between the two governments are in that document," the official added.
Pressed once again on whether the 123 Agreement supercedes the Hyde Act, Boucher replied, "I don't think it is a meaningful statement, one way or the other".
The senior official was asked during the interactive session if the 123 Agreement supercedes the Hyde Act.
"We have met all the requirements of the Hyde Act; non-binding things I have to go back and see to what extent they are met. We don't see anything in the Hyde Act that constrains our relationship, the kind of relationship that we've reached," Boucher said.
"We are seeing a certain political debate and discussion going on in India and discussion for the passage of the legislation in the United States (where) we have to go back to Congress for another round of legislation but after we complete certain number of steps," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher said.
"I don't think we should be too surprised to see that there is legitimate debate and discussion about this," he said at a meeting organised at the Capitol Hill by the United States India Business Alliance.
"We also know we have political timetables and it is better to move this as soon as possible," the senior administration official said.
Describing the accord as "fundamentally good", Boucher said "it was an agreement that was carefully negotiated to meet all the requirements of US laws".
The 123 Agreement will have to go through a number of other steps such as India coming to an arrangement with the International Atomic Energy Agency as well as meeting "the democratic process of both countries," he noted.
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Boucher maintained that the agreement is consistent with US laws, but at the same time, also fits the parameters of what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush agreed on.
The senior official was asked during the interactive session if the 123 Agreement supercedes the Hyde Act.
"We have met all the requirements of the Hyde Act; non-binding things I have to go back and see to what extent they are met. We don't see anything in the Hyde Act that constrains our relationship, the kind of relationship that we've reached," Boucher said.
"The 123 Agreement is subsequent to the passage of the Hyde Act. We think it's in full conformity with the Hyde Act. The deal between the United States and India is the 123 Agreement... those are all the operative clauses, all the operative paragraphs. The understandings between the two governments are in that document," the official added.
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Pressed once again on whether the 123 Agreement supercedes the Hyde Act, Boucher replied, "I don't think it is a meaningful statement, one way or the other".
The senior official was asked during the interactive session if the 123 Agreement supercedes the Hyde Act.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We have met all the requirements of the Hyde Act; non-binding things I have to go back and see to what extent they are met. We don't see anything in the Hyde Act that constrains our relationship, the kind of relationship that we've reached," Boucher said.
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