US News
Bush urges Congress to move forward on US-Indian nuclear deal
By DPA
Nov 9, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - US President George W Bush on Thursday urged Congress to move forward on his proposal to share nuclear energy technology with India, an effort that appears to have strong backing from Democrats who will control Congress in the new year.

'We need to complete the work on legislation that will allow us to cooperate with India on civilian nuclear technology,' Bush said after opposition Democrats won control of Congress in elections earlier this week.

Bush has made the technology-sharing proposal the cornerstone of strengthening US-Indian relations.

Senator Harry Reid, currently the top Democrat in the Senate, has called on Congress to quickly address the issue.

'I do believe it is important for the Senate to act on this matter without further delay. Its passage would mean so much to the vitally important US-India relationship,' Reid said in a recently issued written statement.

Bush and Indian Prime Minister Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed the deal in March, but it requires congressional approval because US law prohibits nuclear cooperation with countries who have not singed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The agreement does not allow the US government to provide any assistance to India's nuclear weapons programmes and requires India to separate its civilian nuclear energy and arms programmes, and allow international inspections of its non-military reactors.

Some members of Congress, including Bush's Republican Party, raised concerns about the programme, insisting that India separate its nuclear activities as a condition for approval of the deal.