"N-DEAL WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH US DOMESTIC LAW"
Washington August 8:
The US has said the civil nuclear deal with India will be "consistent" with America's domestic law and the country is keen on getting the initiative through by the end of this year.
Responding to a powerful Democrat lawmaker's contention that the deal should be shelved till January next as there is not enough time for the Congress to study it, acting Spokesman of State Department Gonzalo Gallegos said the deal is an "important programme" and the Bush administration is working hard resolve any outstanding concerns by this year.
"I want to stress the fact that we believe this is an important programme; we believe that we can get it through this year. We're going to work toward that end," Gallegos said. "And, obviously, anything that we proceed with will be consistent with the US law," he added, clarifying that a Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) exemption for India will not supersede the Hyde Act.
Howard Berman, Chairman of the crucial House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had warned that an NSG waiver "inconsistent" with the 2006 Hyde Act will "jeopardise" the Indo-US nuclear deal in US Congress. Berman, stressed that Washington should make sure that the NSG should agree to terminate the pact if India conducts an atomic test.
"We're working hard to get the Indian civil-nuke programme through this year. We're working with Congress to discuss the issues and resolve any outstanding concerns that they may have. We're working through the Nuclear Suppliers Group to obtain their approval by early September" Gallegos told reporters.
Washington August 8:
The US has said the civil nuclear deal with India will be "consistent" with America's domestic law and the country is keen on getting the initiative through by the end of this year.
Responding to a powerful Democrat lawmaker's contention that the deal should be shelved till January next as there is not enough time for the Congress to study it, acting Spokesman of State Department Gonzalo Gallegos said the deal is an "important programme" and the Bush administration is working hard resolve any outstanding concerns by this year.
"I want to stress the fact that we believe this is an important programme; we believe that we can get it through this year. We're going to work toward that end," Gallegos said. "And, obviously, anything that we proceed with will be consistent with the US law," he added, clarifying that a Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) exemption for India will not supersede the Hyde Act.
Howard Berman, Chairman of the crucial House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had warned that an NSG waiver "inconsistent" with the 2006 Hyde Act will "jeopardise" the Indo-US nuclear deal in US Congress. Berman, stressed that Washington should make sure that the NSG should agree to terminate the pact if India conducts an atomic test.
"We're working hard to get the Indian civil-nuke programme through this year. We're working with Congress to discuss the issues and resolve any outstanding concerns that they may have. We're working through the Nuclear Suppliers Group to obtain their approval by early September" Gallegos told reporters.
