U.S., India To Discuss Nuclear Cooperation During Obama Visit
GANDHINAGAR: The U.S. and India will try to make progress on civil nuclear cooperation during President Barack Obama's visit this month end, Secretary of State John Kerry said as Washington views the liability clause as one of the "knottiest and thorniest" issues in bilateral ties.
He also said that they expected India to sign a landmark climate change agreement in Paris at the end of this year and this would be part of the discussions Obama will have with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Obama will be in India as chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year. He will also have discussions with Modi on bilateral and other issues.
"We will try to make progress on issues like defence agreements, civil nuclear agreement as well as economic progress," Kerry told reporters here giving an outline of the proposed discussions with Modi.
"We are also working together to strengthen maritime security. We are strengthening our partnership to combat terrorism, piracy and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We are committed to regional dialogue on key political and security issues," he said.
After the landmark nuclear deal between the two countries in 2008, cooperation in the sector has been stalled over the tough provisions in the Civil Nuclear Liability Act that have come as a dampener for foreign suppliers who have been made accountable for damages in case of accidents.
The two issues – nuclear liability and patent – "are probably some of the knottiest, thorniest issues that we've had," a senior State Department official told reporters travelling with Kerry, who was on a two-day visit here.
Given that Prime Minister Modi has been in office for only six months, it is not surprising that the two countries have not completely resolved these things, the official said.
"There has been a great deal of rolling up your sleeves discussion going on the civil liability issue, on the nuclear side on civil/nuclear, and I think there's a commitment on both sides to try to find a way through that.
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