Thursday, March 16 2006 18:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The Bush administration is introducing a bill in Congress today (Mar 16 2006) seeking amendment to the Atomic Energy Act to facilitate implementation of the historic nuclear cooperation deal reached with India.

The bill will be introduced both in the Senate and House of Representatives, but lawmakers said that they are not going to be rushed into this legislation.

After Congressional recess, the two chambers are expected to start hearing on the proposed legislation possibly at the end of this month.

The administration had already delivered its draft proposal to Congressmen last week seeking a waiver for India from the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 that currently bars nuclear technology and dual-use items trade with countries that do not accept full-scope safeguards on their nuclear facilities.

State Department Acting spokesman Adam Ereli said here that the administration would be presenting in Congress today the agreement reached with India on the civilian nuclear cooperation and the draft legislation to impelement the deal.

According to the draft legislation, the US President should make seven determinations to Congress regarding the Indo-US nuclear deal.

New Delhi has provided Washington and the International Atomic Energy Agency with a credible separation plan including materials and programmes; and has filed a declaration regarding its civilian facilities with the IAEA.

An agreement has come into force between New Delhi and IAEA regarding the application of safeguards with respect to India's civilian nuclear facilities.

India and the IAEA are making progress on implementing an Additional Protocol that applies to India's civilian nuclear programme.

New Delhi is backing international efforts

New Delhi is backing international efforts to prevent the spread of enrichment and reprocessing technology.

India is working with the United States for a successful conclusion of the multilateral Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty.

Necessary steps are being taken by India to secure nuclear material and technology through a comprehensive export control legislation and regulation and through a harmonisation and adherence to Missile Technology Control Regime and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines.

Supply to India by the US under an agreement for cooperation arrangement pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act is consistent with American participation in NSG.

Hours before the introduction of the bill, President George W Bush said in Maryland that India "has been a non-proliferator, has proven to be a non-proliferator for the past 30 years. In other words, they've got a record, and in my judgement should cause the Congress to pass old law to treat them as a new partner."

India wanted to be a part of international agreements that would help deal with proliferation, he said, making a strong case for approval of the pact in Congress.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, meanwhile, said in Sydney that the agreement "strengthens security by expanding the reach" of the IAEA "to have access to Indian civil nuclear facilities which it currently does not have."

"Everyone understands a growing economy like India needs energy supply and civil nuclear energy is clean, it protects the environment, it can be plentiful and currently India is not capable of pursuing civil nuclear power to the degree that it will need to," she said.