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US eyes two Indian nuclear parks
PM likely to visit US in September
S Rajagopalan
First Published : 27 Jun 2009 07:53:32 AM IST
Last Updated : 27 Jun 2009 09:45:05 AM IST
WASHINGTON: The United States expects
New Delhi to announce the locations of two nuclear parks for American companies next month when Hillary Clinton makes her first visit to India as secretary of state.
“We hope to have two sites that would be announced, where American companies can go in and provide new reactors, which would be a major source of new business opportunities for American companies,” assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia Robert Blake told a Congressional panel. He sought to clear the air about slow implementation of the civil nuclear deal, asserting: “We’re making a great deal of progress. We’re most of the way there now.” “India, as you know, just signed their additional protocol, and now they’ve got to file with the IAEA the list of their safeguarded facilities,” Blake said. “And then we’re also hoping to see action on nuclear liability legislation that would reduce liability for American companies and allow them to invest in India.” Blake termed Clinton’s upcoming India trip ‘a major visit for us’. Clinton, now recuperating after a surgery for the right elbow that she fractured last week in a fall, is slated to visit New Delhi in the latter part of July, but the dates for the visit are still to be announced.
Earlier, Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson, who had played an active part in the Congressional passage of the nuclear deal during the Bush administration, had quizzed: “And so, what is the status of the civilian nuclear agreement with India?” Blake, in his opening remarks to a subcommittee hearing of the House foreign affairs committee, said the implementation of the civil nuclear deal has established a new level of trust between India and the US, setting the stage for the next level in which the two countries can become global partners while also focusing on India’s still huge development needs.
He said that President Barack Obama and Clinton have both expressed ‘a deep commitment to building stronger ties with India, a commitment based on mutual respect and mutual interests’, with Clinton affirming: “We see India as one of a few key partners worldwide who will help us shape the 21st century.” On the Indo-Pak front, the US points person for South Asia stuck to the line that Washington will ‘continue to support dialogue between Indian and Pakistani leaders’, while ‘the timing, scope, and content of any such dialogue are strictly matters for Pakistani and Indian leaders to decide’.
“India and Pakistan face common challenges, and we will support continuing dialogue to find joint solutions to counter terrorism and to promote regional stability,” he said.
In reply to a lawmaker’s question, Blake said Pakistan has deployed some troops away from the Indian border.
“I think more needs to be done in that respect, but we’re encouraged by the progress that has been made so far,” he said.
PM likely to visit US in September
S Rajagopalan
First Published : 27 Jun 2009 07:53:32 AM IST
Last Updated : 27 Jun 2009 09:45:05 AM IST
WASHINGTON: The United States expects
New Delhi to announce the locations of two nuclear parks for American companies next month when Hillary Clinton makes her first visit to India as secretary of state.
“We hope to have two sites that would be announced, where American companies can go in and provide new reactors, which would be a major source of new business opportunities for American companies,” assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia Robert Blake told a Congressional panel. He sought to clear the air about slow implementation of the civil nuclear deal, asserting: “We’re making a great deal of progress. We’re most of the way there now.” “India, as you know, just signed their additional protocol, and now they’ve got to file with the IAEA the list of their safeguarded facilities,” Blake said. “And then we’re also hoping to see action on nuclear liability legislation that would reduce liability for American companies and allow them to invest in India.” Blake termed Clinton’s upcoming India trip ‘a major visit for us’. Clinton, now recuperating after a surgery for the right elbow that she fractured last week in a fall, is slated to visit New Delhi in the latter part of July, but the dates for the visit are still to be announced.
Earlier, Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson, who had played an active part in the Congressional passage of the nuclear deal during the Bush administration, had quizzed: “And so, what is the status of the civilian nuclear agreement with India?” Blake, in his opening remarks to a subcommittee hearing of the House foreign affairs committee, said the implementation of the civil nuclear deal has established a new level of trust between India and the US, setting the stage for the next level in which the two countries can become global partners while also focusing on India’s still huge development needs.
He said that President Barack Obama and Clinton have both expressed ‘a deep commitment to building stronger ties with India, a commitment based on mutual respect and mutual interests’, with Clinton affirming: “We see India as one of a few key partners worldwide who will help us shape the 21st century.” On the Indo-Pak front, the US points person for South Asia stuck to the line that Washington will ‘continue to support dialogue between Indian and Pakistani leaders’, while ‘the timing, scope, and content of any such dialogue are strictly matters for Pakistani and Indian leaders to decide’.
“India and Pakistan face common challenges, and we will support continuing dialogue to find joint solutions to counter terrorism and to promote regional stability,” he said.
In reply to a lawmaker’s question, Blake said Pakistan has deployed some troops away from the Indian border.
“I think more needs to be done in that respect, but we’re encouraged by the progress that has been made so far,” he said.