Date:26/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/26/stories/2008032660201200.htm

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Pranab, Bush discuss nuclear agreement

Washington: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday met United States President George W. Bush at the White House and discussed the whole gamut of bilateral ties, including the civilian nuclear deal.

The 35-minute meeting, held at the Oval Office, was described as “excellent and cordial.”

Details of the meeting were not made available to the media excepting the point that the Minister would like to describe them first hand at the press conference.

“You will know from the Minister,” said a senior official asked about details.

Besides the Minister, the Indian delegation at the Oval Office comprised Ambassador Ronen Sen, Foreign Secretary Sivshankar Menon, Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission Raminder Singh Jassal and Joint Secretary (Americas) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Gayatri Kumar.

Present with Mr. Bush were Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Prior to the meeting, the White House said the President was “excited” about meeting Mr. Mukherjee and discussing the range of bilateral issues, including the nuclear deal. “President Bush is excited to meet with the Minister of India,” White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said.

“There are lots of different things to talk about. We have a broad and deep relationship with India on a variety of issues, including the civilian nuclear agreement... And I’m sure they’ll talk about other things as well,” the official said. — PTI