Date:07/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/07/stories/2006120707330100.htm

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``No discussion before Senate passed Bill''

Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that no ``prior discussions'' had taken place with Washington before the American Senate passed the Bill on civilian nuclear cooperation with India in November.

The Bill envisaged the setting up of a cooperative threat reduction (CTR) programme to further ``common'' nuclear non-proliferation goals.

In a written reply, Mr. Mukherjee said: ``By its very nature, establishing such a [CTR] programme would require the agreement of the Government of India, which would take a decision after fully taking into account all aspects of our national security."

``In fact, [the] U.S. Congress had earlier legislated on establishing a CTR programme with India under the Department of Defence Appropriations Act 2002, which has not been implemented,'' he said.

``It is our position that the final legislation adhere as closely as possible to the understandings contained in the India-U.S. joint statement of July 18, 2005 and the March 2006 separation plan.''