Friday, December 2 2005 11:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The Bush administration has said the civilian nuclear agreement with India is the 'right deal' for the US and that the pact is a 'net gain for non-proliferation' efforts while it assured sceptics that there will be a full discussion on the issue.

Responding to a question on a letter written to the Congress by former US officials and non-proliferation experts in which they expressed apprehension on the passage of the deal as it has been structured, the State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack stressed the deal is the right one for America. "We have received a letter. I think that this is going to be a topic of discussion in the coming months. We came to an agreement with the Indian Government after a long, long period of discussion concerning this issue. I think that in our view the reason why we did come to this is that we believe it is a net gain for non-proliferation efforts."

"I would expect that there is going to be a full discussion about this issue, but we think at the end of the day that this is the right deal for the United States. We believe it's the right deal for non-proliferation efforts", he told reporters yesterday (Dec 01, 2005).

Under the Agreement, reached between President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18, the US would lift restrictions on the supply of reactors and fuel for India's civilian nuclear programme provided New Delhi fulfilled a series of obligations.

McCormack said the administration is working on a variety of avenues on the issue.

"We're working within the Nuclear Suppliers Group. We have made some preliminary discussions within the Nuclear Suppliers Group on this issue. Under Secretary (Nicholas) Burns and Under Secretary (Robert) Joseph had some initial consultations with the Hill on the issue".

He said that an 'important' component of this accord is the eventual separation of the Indian civilian and military nuclear programmes.

"We think that that's important. And as part of that, the civilian nuclear programmes would come under safeguard protections, we have heard and we understand the concerns of those who say that this isn't the right deal," the Spokesman said making the point that the administration is looking forward to discussing concerns with Congress.

"But at the end of the day, we think that the majority will see that this is the right deal for America as well as for global non-proliferation efforts", he remarked.

McCormack stressed that Washington was waiting to hear from New Delhi on the separation of the civilian and military programmes. "Part of this is a discussion about what their plans will be on this matter".

As for the discussions on Capitol Hill the State Department has said that discussions have just begun and that in the first half of 2006 it is expected to pick up. "I think that we are certainly open to a full consultation and discussion with the Hill on this matter. They are going to play an important role in this".