US-India deal helps India to emerge as plus force Saturday, July 23 2005 15:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
Washington:
The full nuclear cooperation agreement negotiated between President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will encourage India's emergence as 'a positive force in world scene,' the US has said.
A fact sheet released by the US yesterday (July 23, 2005) said Washington has established a global partnership with India, which encourages its emergence as a positive force on the world scene.
The two countries have agreed that India should receive the benefits and accept all the responsibilities of the world's leading states with advanced nuclear technology,
concurrent with its enhanced nonproliferation commitments and in the context of its growing energy needs, the document said.
"The agreement to reach full civil nuclear cooperation brings India into the international nonproliferation mainstream. It opens new doorways for a cleaner and more secure global energy future.
It makes the United States an essential partner as India normalizes its rising position in
the community of nations," it said.
The document said India would assume the same responsibilities and practices as other countries with advanced nuclear programme, and has agreed to:
Identify and separate civilian and military nuclear facilities and programs and file an IAEA declaration regarding its civilian facilities;
Place voluntarily its civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards;
Sign and adhere to an Additional Protocol with respect to civilian nuclear facilities;
Continue its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing;
Work with the U.S. for the conclusion of a multilateral Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty;
Refrain from the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to states that do not have them and support efforts to limit their spread;
Secure nuclear materials and technology through comprehensive export control legislation and adherence to the Missile Technology Control Regime and Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The United States has reciprocally promised that the Administration will:
Seek agreement from Congress to adjust U.S. laws and policies;
Work with friends and allies to adjust international regimes to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation and trade with India;
Consult with partners on India's participation in the fusion energy consortium ITER and support India's part in work to develop advanced nuclear reactors.
Indian commitments to uphold central nonproliferation norms pave the way forward for expanded cooperation in the civil nuclear sphere, the fact sheet said.
The agreement strengthens energy security and promotes the development of stable and efficient energy markets in India to ensure adequate, affordable energy supplies.
These actions firmly align the U.S. with the world's largest democracy, it added.
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