Indo-US fuel reprocessing agreement by August 2010: Tauscher

The US expects to reach an agreement with India on reprocessing of fuel by August of next year, Ellen Tauscher, nominated by President Barack Obama as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, informed lawmakers today.

The US expects to reach an agreement with India on reprocessing of fuel by August of next year, Ellen Tauscher, nominated by President Barack Obama as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, informed lawmakers today.

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"We expect to complete negotiations with India and reach agreement on reprocessing related arrangements and procedures within the 12 months time period allowed for negotiations as set forth in Article 6(iii) (of the 123 agreement)," Tauscher said in a written statement at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

She said on Feb 3 India requested for consultations to start on arrangements and procedures under which reprocessing or other alteration in form or content could take place.

"We have acknowledged the Indian request and have affirmed our intention to begin consultations within the six-month period referenced in Article 6(iii) i.E by August 2, 2009," she said.

Tauscher said the US administration was in the process of determining what provisions should be contained in such an agreement.

"Once we have an inter-agency agreement on a proposed text, and have consulted with the IAEA on its needs, we will forward a draft text to the Indian side for comment and will offer to open consultations on a specific date," she said.