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US warns India over nuclear pact | US warns India over nuclear pact |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A US delegation has warned India it must finalise a nuclear deal by July if Congress in Washington is to ratify it before presidential polls. | A US delegation has warned India it must finalise a nuclear deal by July if Congress in Washington is to ratify it before presidential polls. |
The civilian nuclear energy deal between the two countries has been delayed because of opposition from India's communist parties. | The civilian nuclear energy deal between the two countries has been delayed because of opposition from India's communist parties. |
The parties provide key support to PM Manmohan Singh's minority government. | The parties provide key support to PM Manmohan Singh's minority government. |
They argue that the accord would give the US undue influence over India's foreign and nuclear policy. | They argue that the accord would give the US undue influence over India's foreign and nuclear policy. |
Under the terms of the deal, India would get access to US civil nuclear technology and fuel, in return for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection. | Under the terms of the deal, India would get access to US civil nuclear technology and fuel, in return for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection. |
But its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | But its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. |
The deal will also eventually need to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade. | The deal will also eventually need to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade. |
'Difficult to ratify' | 'Difficult to ratify' |
The delegation of three US senators arrived in Delhi on a day-long visit after monitoring Pakistan's elections. | |
"Time is of the essence," Joseph Biden, one of the senators, said, urging India to confirm its support for the nuclear deal. | "Time is of the essence," Joseph Biden, one of the senators, said, urging India to confirm its support for the nuclear deal. |
The left-wing parties have been protesting against the nuclear deal | The left-wing parties have been protesting against the nuclear deal |
The visiting Americans say the deal is running out of time because of the tight legislative agenda for 2008 ahead of November's US presidential elections. | The visiting Americans say the deal is running out of time because of the tight legislative agenda for 2008 ahead of November's US presidential elections. |
"If we don't have the deal back with us clearly prior to the month of July, it will be very difficult to ratify," Mr Biden said. | "If we don't have the deal back with us clearly prior to the month of July, it will be very difficult to ratify," Mr Biden said. |
Whatever the merits of the deal, passing it through Congress after July would be harder because of "the mechanics on which our system functions", he said. | Whatever the merits of the deal, passing it through Congress after July would be harder because of "the mechanics on which our system functions", he said. |
Mr Biden also said it was "highly unlikely" the next president would be able to authorise the same deal, if it did not reach Congress in time. | Mr Biden also said it was "highly unlikely" the next president would be able to authorise the same deal, if it did not reach Congress in time. |
"It will be renegotiated," Mr Biden said. | "It will be renegotiated," Mr Biden said. |
"It is critical, if India want that deal, they move on relatively soon, within a matter of weeks,'' he said. | "It is critical, if India want that deal, they move on relatively soon, within a matter of weeks,'' he said. |
Mr Biden and senators John Kerry and Chuck Hagel met Prime Minister Singh on Wednesday to express their concerns over the issue. | Mr Biden and senators John Kerry and Chuck Hagel met Prime Minister Singh on Wednesday to express their concerns over the issue. |
India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 and consequently is banned from buying fuel for atomic reactors and related equipment. | India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 and consequently is banned from buying fuel for atomic reactors and related equipment. |
The deal has already been pronounced dead by some analysts because of India's domestic political rivalries. | The deal has already been pronounced dead by some analysts because of India's domestic political rivalries. |
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