Bush to sign N-deal bill on October 8; India expects clarifications

WASHINGTON: President George W Bush is set to sign the legislation on the Indo-US nuclear deal into law tomorrow, an occasion when India expects certain provisions of the 123 Agreement will be cleared.

Bush, who had entered into the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh three years ago, will sign the Bill HR 7081 on the nuclear deal at the East Room of the White House tomorrow.

"The President cordially invites you to the signing of H R 7081, United States India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act," reads an invitation sent out by the White House.

The historic agreement could not be inked during Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's day-long visit to India on October 4 as New Delhi insisted that it would do so only after seeing Bush's signing statement. India is expecting Bush to clear the American position on certain aspects like fuel supply assurances.

Ever since the Senate passed the legislation on October 1, senior officials have privately maintained that Bush will be keen on having a signing ceremony in which he will have the opportunity to thank not only members of his dministration, especially at the State Department and White House who worked to secure the deal, but also lawmakers and leaders of the Indian American community.

The bill was approved by the House of Representatives before the Senate gave its nod for it. It had bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate.