US President George W. Bush will sign into law today a bill approved by
Congress allowing civilian US nuclear trade with India, Bush's spokesman Carlton
Carroll said yesterday.
"The president looks forward to signing this bill into law and continuing to
strengthen the US-India Strategic Partnership," Carroll said in a statement.
"This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear nonproliferation
efforts, protect the environment, create jobs, and assist India in meeting its
growing energy needs in a responsible manner."
US Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Energy
Secretary Samuel Bodman, and India's ambassador to Washington Ronen Sen are
expected to attend the ceremony.
Washington and New Delhi reached an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation in
March 2006, under which India will get access to US civil nuclear technology on
condition that India is to separate nuclear facilities for civilian and military
use and open its nuclear facilities for inspection.
Following India's approval of the deal in July, the US House of
Representatives approved the agreement on Sept. 27. Prior to the approvals, the
45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) agreed early this month to lift a
nuclear trade embargo on India.
On Aug. 1, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed to sign a
nuclear safeguards agreement with India, a move seen as giving the green light
to India-US nuclear cooperation.
