India-U.S. ties enter Phase III with new pacts
Tuesday, 21 July 2009, 23:34 IST
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India-U.S. ties enter Phase III with new pacts
New Delhi: Launching the third phase of their strategic partnership, India Monday approved two sites for U.S. nuclear reactors and concluded critical pacts on easing high-end defence sales and launch of civilian satellites as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her five-day India visit. Both countries also agreed to an expanded strategic dialogue, to be chaired by their foreign ministers, who will meet once annually in alternate capitals. After holding talks with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna for nearly an hour, Clinton announced that an expanded strategic dialogue will be a "signature accomplishment" of their governments in the days to come. The talks dwelled on bilateral ties and regional and global issues, including counter-terror cooperation, civil nuclear cooperation, climate change, non-proliferation, the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear issue. Clinton also announced the invitation by U.S. President Barack Obama to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit him in the White House Nov 24 - the first state visit by the Indian leader under the new administration in Washington. "Recognising the new heights achieved in the India-U.S. relationship over the last two Indian and U.S. administrations, they committed to pursuing a third and transformative phase of the relationship that will enhance global prosperity and stability in the 21st century," a joint statement at the end of the talks said. Stressing on the U.S.' commitment to completing the remaining steps of the India-U.S. nuclear deal, that includes a critical agreement on reprocessing, Clinton said Manmohan Singh, with whom she held talks in the afternoon, told her that two sites have been approved by the government for U.S. nuclear reactors. Clinton said that she "affirmed the Obama administration's strong commitment to completing all the remaining elements of our civil nuclear deal". "We have just completed a civil nuclear deal. If it is done through proper channels and safeguarded, then it is appropriate," she asserted. Clinton also said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told her that sites for two nuclear parks by American companies have been "approved by the government". "These parks will advance the aims of the U.S. India civil nuclear agreement facilitating billions of dollars in U.S. reactor exports and create jobs in both countries, as well as generate much needed energy for the Indian people," she said. The U.S. nuclear reactors will create jobs for Americans and provide energy security for India, Clinton said. She also urged New Delhi to approve a civil liability legislation that will exempt foreign nuclear companies from huge compensation in case of a nuclear accident. Clinton dispelled apprehensions in India about a weakening of commitment on part of the Obama administration about India-U.S. ties after signing of the landmark nuclear deal last year. "I can pledge more than that. We have demonstrated very clearly the significance of our relations with India," Clinton replied when asked whether the U.S. was focusing more on relations with China and Pakistan and ignoring India in the process. "As partners on the world stage, there is a significant expansion of bilateral relationship," Clinton said at a joint press conference with Krishna. Clinton also ends her five-day visit to India with a crucial end-user verification agreement in her bag that is potentially worth billions of dollars in business for U.S. defence companies. The two countries signed a pact on civilian space launches that promises to bring more business for the Indian Space Research Organisation. The pact will permit the launch of civil or non-commercial satellites containing U.S. components on Indian space launch vehicles. An agreement on creating a $30 million Science and Technology Endowment fund was also inked by Clinton and Krishna. The defence pact, which was dogged by quibbling till the very last minute, was easily the show stealer. The end-user agreement, mandatory under a U.S. law to sell sophisticated arms to other countries, will remove a major obstacle in accelerating defence ties between India and the US. The pact will set the pitch for U.S. firms to bid for India's tender for purchasing 126 multi-role fighters that is estimated to be worth $10.4 billion. Major U.S. defence companies like Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co. are eying a pie of India's lucrative defence market. In her five-day high-visibility India visit that was virtually tracked 24X7 by TV and new media like Twitter, Clinton unleashed her charm offensive and focused on expanding civil society partnership in her first trip to India after becoming the Obama administration's chief diplomat. "The relations between India and the U.S. is a good news story, is getting better," Clinton said. In Mumbai, Clinton stayed at the landmark Taj hotel that was attacked by the terrorists, saying she wished to send a message of solidarity and a rebuke to terrorists who could not destroy the spirit of the people of Mumbai. After a weekend spent in media spotlight in Mumbai, Clinton began her Delhi visit with two events - a conference on climate change in Gurgaon, followed by a trip to the National Agricultural Science Centre - highlighting on the important areas of the new phase of the India-U.S. partnership.
Source: IANS
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