Transformation in relation with the U.S: Kalam
By agencies   |   Thursday, 16 February 2006, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Amid reports that the U.S. was changing its goalpost on the nuclear deal with India, Government today said it 'expects' the country gaining access to international cooperation to its civil nuclear energy sector based on "reciprocal commitments" made by the two countries last July. Ahead of U.S. President Bush's visit next month, the government also said 'major initiatives' were underway to encourage expansion of investment, trade and technology transfers, accelerate cooperation for energy security and evolve framework for defense cooperation between the two countries. Outlining the government's foreign policy, President A P J Abdul Kalam said Parliament would be appraised of the on-going discussions between India and the U.S. on the nuclear issue in this session. Reports that the U.S. wants India to put its Fast Breeder Reactor program under IAEA safeguards triggered a political storm here, raising questions over the future of the nuclear deal reached on July 18 during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Washington. There is uncertainty over whether the two sides can reach an agreement for implementing the deal during the visit of U.S. President George W Bush here from March one. "Government expects that the country may gain access to international cooperation for enlargement of our civilian nuclear energy sector based on the reciprocal commitments of India and the U.S. in the Joint Statement," Kalam said addressing the joint session of Parliament. Bush had promised to work with friends and allies to adjust international regimes to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation and trade with India. This included expeditious consideration of fuel supplies for safeguarded nuclear reactors at Tarapur. As part of this, Singh had said India would identify and separate civilian and military nuclear facilities in a phased manner.

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