Friday, March 10 2006 10:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The Bush administration has expressed confidence that the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy agreement will win the approval of American lawmakers as Washington sees the 'new relationship' between the two countries as 'very, very important'.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher told reporters yesterday that "This (the nuclear deal) is an issue for the nation as a whole. This is an issue which is not going to divide up on partisan lines..both Houses, understand that the new relationship with India is very, very important to the United States."

Boucher, who responded to queries as to whether there were any apprehensions about the deal on Capitol Hill, said the administration was ready to answer to objections raised by lawmakers.

"This is an issue that is important to a lot of people on the Hill.There will be questions raised as there are on whether this is the right way to do it, the right way to do it for Non-proliferation. I think we have answers to those questions. I think we'll find the support we need," the senior official said.

"We have people asking legitimate questions that deserve legitimate answers," he said.

Boucher said that there was no fixed time limit on getting the deal approved by the Congress but indicated that the process could well begin perhaps even as early as next week.

The Assistant Secretary of State added that once the process of approval had started, the administration would do everything possible to get it moved forward.

"The legislative process will proceed once legislation is submitted and we have been talking to members of Congress with what kind of legislation that would have to be submitted, how it can proceed," Boucher said at the Round Table at the State Department.

He said, "So far we (the administration) have talked to a lot of people who are very supportive. They understand that this agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation is an important part of working with India across the board on what is a 21st century relationship."

Boucher also denied the assertion that the nuclear deal would weaken the Non-proliferation Treaty.

"The future of the NPT is good. It is still an important treaty for all those who participate in it. Different countries have taken different paths. I think the benefits to the nations who join the NPT who long ago decided to develop civilian power within the structure of the NPT or even ten to fifteen years ago countries that gave up nuclear weapons are very clear and it still offers some," Boucher said.

"I think we also need to look at the opportunity we have now to bring India closer to the international Non-proliferation, to have meaningful participation from India in a way that has not been possible for three decades.It is a great opportunity to bring India into the Non-proliferation mainstream and have their support of Non-proliferation goals," he added.

Later, speaking at the John Hopkins University, the Assistant Secretary of State said that the US would not get into a characterization of the current status of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan.

"Our view is that this is all positive," he said.



PTI

Washington, administration, indo, us, civilian nuclear energy agreement lawmakers, new relationship, assistant secretary of state, capitol hill, John hopkins university,