Thursday, January 12 2006 13:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Implementation of the Indo-US deal on civilian nuclear cooperation will mean grant of nuclear power status to India, influential American Senator and former Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry said here today (Jan 12, 2006) as he voiced support for the agreement.

Kerry told a press conference here that the deal, with 'enormous benefits' bilaterally, cannot be seen only in the context of Indo-US relations but had implications at the global level.

Kerry, a member of the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told him during their meeting here yesterday that India would sign the Fissile Material Control Treaty (FMCT).

"I will be disingenuous to suggest that if the (Indo-US) agreement (on civilian nuclear cooperation) comes through, it will not grant nuclear power status to India. Obviously, it does," he said.

Kerry, whose opposition Democratic Party will have a crucial role with regard to ratification of the deal in the US Congress, said he backed the agreement signed on July 18 last year by the two countries during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington.

"In principle, I support the deal. It is a great game, a positive game, for India, the US and the global community," he said.

The Senator said, "The deal cannot be seen only in the bilateral context as it has impact broader than bilateral, involving the role of three important international bodies or agreements, particularly when Iran and other compelling issues are on the table."

Explaining the global dimension of the agreement, he said it would entail endorsement of the 35-country Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), amendment of the Atomic Energy Advisory Board and adoption of the Fissile Technology Control Regime.

Referring to his meeting with Singh here yesterday, Kerry said he had told him clearly that India will sign Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

The Senator, who came close to defeat George W Bush in the US Presidential elections last year, said, "It would give greater visibility to what India is doing on non-proliferation. But it has to be seen if we arrive at that."