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'Indo-US N-deal to get final nod by year-end'

Assistant Secretary of State Boucher said the "unique" agreement is on track.

Published on: Jul 18, 2006, 08:47:00 IST
None | By , Washington
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The United States has said the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear deal is on track and the "unique" agreement could receive the final approval by the end of this year if everything moves in tandem.

HT Image
HT Image

"The agreement is on track...The legislation is moving quickly...Our Congress has been very supportive," Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said.

Washington also said it was not aware of any other country making a proposal for Pakistan on the lines of the agreement with India.

Interacting with foreign journalists on the eve of first anniversary of the historic July 18, 2005 meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush, the senior US official, but, said he was "hesitant" to predict the timeframe for the deal to come into force.

Boucher said the administration hopes that the House of Representatives takes up the legislation some time next week and the Senate soon after that.

"Once each passes legislation, assuming that it is not exactly the same, they'll have to go through a conference, which would happen after their August recess. So perhaps in September they could put through the final legislation," he said.

Boucher said US was working with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on the deal while India was into negotiations with the US and the IAEA on safeguards agreement.

"So, if all those pieces come together and we have the legislation, it's conceivable that all this could be done by the end of the year, but I can't promise specifically that it will be, because each of these factors has to move forward and get concluded on its o track," Boucher said.

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