Bush certifies 123 as proliferation-proof

NEW DELHI: US president George Bush has certified to the US Congress that the 123 Agreement does not help India in making or acquiring nuclear weapons.

Under the provisions of the US-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, Mr Bush is required to make two sets of certification to the Congress. In the first set he has certified that the 123 Agreement is consistent with the obligations of the US under the non proliferation treaty.

Mr Bush also certified that the administration would work with NSG members to restrict the sale of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to India.

This is part of the first set of certifications that the US president is mandated to do before the 123 Agreement comes into force. The second set of certifications will be followed by an exchange of diplomatic notes.

���I hereby certify the entry into force and implementation of the United States-India Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy pursuant to its terms is consistent with the obligation of the United States under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce India to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices,��� Mr Bush said in a memorandum sent to US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

This was part of the presidential determination that was sent on October 20.

���It is the policy of the US to work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, individually and collectively, to agree to further restrict the transfers of equipment and technology related to the enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel,��� he added. The US has been spearhearding a move within the NSG to restrict the transfer of enrichment technology.