India raises concerns over US nuke deal

NEW DELHI—Indian premier Manmohan Singh has expressed “some concerns” on a nuclear deal with the United States in a telephone talk with US President George W. Bush, officials said. Singh told Bush that “India still has some concerns, although many have been addressed,” the prime minister’s spokesman Sanjaya Baru said on Thursday.
The landmark deal, which offers India access to long-denied US civilian nuclear technology, was signed by Bush on Monday. “Both leaders expressed the hope that remaining concerns will be addressed in the next stage of negotiation,” Baru added.
Under the deal, which is still being finalised, the US will transfer civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India for the first time since New Delhi tested a nuclear device in 1974. The deal was first agreed between Bush and Singh in July 2005 in a strategic partnership that also aimed at boosting military ties and investments and trade.
A statement by President George W. Bush issued in connection with the just-signed U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation law has raised concerns that Bush may try to circumvent some of Congress’ intentions, lawmakers and analysts say.
The statement, clarifying Bush’s views on law and policy, was issued after he signed new legislation on Monday permitting U.S. sales of nuclear fuel and reactors to India for the first time in 30 years.
In the statement, Bush said his signature “does not constitute my adoption of the statements of policy (in the law) as U.S. foreign policy.” Also in responding to reports mandated by Congress, he would consider how releasing data requested by lawmakers might “impair foreign relations.”
In one of its most controversial directives, Congress stipulated in the law that presidents should report annually on India’s cooperation in restraining Iran’s nuclear program, which Bush has condemned as a major international threat.
“With his recent signing statement, once again the president has shown he views Congress as a nuisance rather than an equal branch of government under the Constitution,” said Sen. Thomas Harkin of Iowa, a Democrat whose party will control a majority of the new Congress to be sworn in next month.
It was “outrageous that the president has repeatedly stated the greatest threat to U.S. national security is a nuclear Iran, yet explicitly rejects Congress’ declaration that it shall be the official policy of the United States that India will not use its nuclear technology to help develop Iran’s nuclear weapons arsenal,” Harkin said in a press release.
In the statement, Bush also said he considered as only “advisory” a congressional directive prohibiting nuclear transfers to India that conflict with guidelines of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which the United States helped establish years ago to restrain nuclear trade. Democratic Rep. Edward Markey (news, bio, voting record) of Massachusetts said this shows Bush is “reserving the  right to ignore the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India’s prime minister told President Bush on Thursday that his country is worried about details of a landmark nuclear pact with the United States, under which the U.S. agreed to supply the Indian power industry with fuel and technology. Bush signed legislation Monday approving the deal, which reverses 30 years of U.S. atomic policy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told President Bush in a phone call that India has “some concerns” about the nuclear pact, according to a statement by Singh’s office.—Agencies