By Naveen Kapoor
New Delhi, Oct 4 (ANI): Rejecting any differences over nuclear deal between India and United States, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said that there are no ”open issues” on the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement and it is only the administrative and procedural steps which are deferring the agreement.
She said the US stood behind its commitment and President George W. Bush will soon sign the legislation and 123 agreement in consistent with the Hyde act.
Hailing India’’s good proliferation behavior Rice reiterated that Indo-US relations are beyond nuclear agreement.
Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee jointly addressed the media after the meeting.
After attending United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Mukherjee returned from the US earlier in the day today.
Both the leaders had delegation level talks as well as one to one meeting.
Rice who is on a two-day visit to India will also meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the leader of the opposition L. K. Advani later today.
The External Affairs Minister and Rice also discussed the situation in Pakistan, the US Secretary of State expressed satisfaction over the resumption of peace dialogue between the two countries.
Mukherjee also called for making joint anti-terror mechanism more effective.
The Indian side is inclined to see Bush first sign the legislation into law as it expects the US President’’s accompanying statement to clarify certain aspects, particularly fuel assurance supply, that have created apprehensions.
On Thursday, the United States Senate approved the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
The 100-member US Senate approved the Indo-US nuclear deal paving the way for its operationalisation. While 86 Senators voted for the deal, 13 opposed it. The US Senate approved the legislation on the deal four days after the US House of Representatives passed the agreement by a clear majority (298-117 votes). (ANI)