The United States and India have reached an understanding on the implementation of a ”historic” civilian nuclear-energy cooperation deal and sealed agreements in other key areas, Indian Premier Manmohan Singh and US President George Bush announced at a joint press briefing on Thursday.
”We have concluded a historic agreement on nuclear power,” Bush said at a joint press briefing with Singh after holding wide-ranging talks in the Indian capital.
The nuclear deal has been the centrepiece of the US leader’s three-day visit to India.
Singh said the two countries have arrived at a ”mutually satisfactory” understanding to carry forward the process that was agreed upon in July last year.
”We have made history today,” Singh told reporters.
Under the agreement, it had been decided that the US would supply nuclear technology and material for India’s civilian nuclear-energy programme after India separated its civilian and military nuclear facilities and placed the former under international safeguards.
”The preparation of a separation [of civilian and military nuclear facilities] has been successfully completed,” Singh said.
Bush said he will persuade the US Congress and the 44-member Nuclear Suppliers Group to revise laws and guidelines to allow Delhi access to nuclear technology and materials.
”It is not an easy job for the prime minister to achieve this agreement, I understand. It is not easy for the American president to achieve this agreement. But it is a necessary agreement, it’s one that will help both our peoples,” he said.
Singh also said discussions will begin with the International Atomic Energy Agency to formulate India-specific safeguards.
The agreement acknowledges India’s military nuclear-power status and allows the country, a non-signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, access to nuclear technology denied to it since it first conducted nuclear tests in 1974.
The civilian nuclear energy will enable India, the second-fastest-growing economy worldwide after China, to overcome its energy deficit and fuel its booming economy.
Asked whether the US is rewarding India for its ”bad behaviour”, Bush said proliferation is a concern and was a part of the discussions with New Delhi.
He said it is in the US’s economic interest that India have a civilian nuclear-power industry to help take the pressure off global demand for fuel.
The two countries have also sealed pacts on several key areas such as science, technology and health. ”Many of the areas now covered are central to India’s national development. They include energy, agriculture, science and technology, trade, investment and high technology, health and environment,” the Indian premier said.
The joint statement issued after the meeting mentioned measures to reduce barriers to trade and investment with the goal of doubling bilateral trade in three years to more than $50-billion as well as the launch of a knowledge initiative on agriculture.
Referring to the attack in Karachi on Thursday in which a US foreign-service official was killed, Bush said it will not prevent him from going to Pakistan. Bush is due to visit Pakistan on Saturday.
The US president said India and Pakistan have a historic opportunity to make use of their improved ties to work towards peaceful relations.
He said the US and India are committed to strengthening democracy in the region in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Nepal.
Bush also called for the release of Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The two leaders held talks amid protests by Islamic and communist groups in India, who organised rallies and meetings to protest US foreign policy, particularly against the ”invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq” and its stance on Iran.
The communist parties, allies of Singh’s United Progressive Alliance, mounted a protest in the Indian Parliament against the ”imperialist policies” of the US, causing both Houses to adjourn. Thousands participated in a protest march in New Delhi organised by the leftist parties, socialist organisations and environmental groups.
Indian authorities have made elaborate security arrangements during the Bush visit. More than 5 000 personnel of the Delhi police were stretched with the protests and providing security at the diplomatic enclave as well as the Maurya Sheraton hotel where Bush is staying.
On his way to India on Wednesday, Bush made an unexpected stop in Afghanistan, where he met President Hamid Karzai. He will make a one-day visit to Pakistan on Saturday before returning to the US. — Sapa-dpa