Saturday, March 11 2006 10:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: US President George W Bush and senior members of his Administration like Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be personally involved in the legislative process regarding the civilian nuclear energy agreement with India that has to formally clear Capitol Hill, a senior State Department official said yesterday(Mar 10,2006).

The legislation to this effect will be formally introduced in about two weeks time, Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said.

Speaking at the Coalition for Partnership with India (CPI), a forum that has been created and managed by the US Chamber of Commerce and has as its major player the United States India Business Council led by Ron Somers, the top Administration official argued that the civilian nuclear deal is the right thing for the United States.

"We are confident that it is the right step for the United States," Burns told the audience stressing that Washington is also confident that the arrangement with India strengthens the global non-proliferation regimes.

The senior State Department official was quite optimistic about the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the entity that the United States would have to go before as a part of its obligations.

"We are confident that a majority of members are going to step forward" to support the agreement, Burns said.

The NSG operates by consensus and hence all 35 countries will have to agree to lift restrictions.

"If our Congress agrees to lift American restrictions we are fully confident" that the NSG will see that step, Burns said.