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Nuclear deal to be inked during Condoleezza Rice’s visit

NEW DELHI: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives here on Saturday on a two-nation tour of India and Kazakhstan with the inking of the India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement high on the agenda.

In India, she will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani and other leaders.

With Dr. Singh and Mr. Mukherjee, she will discuss a wide range of issues, including the civil nuclear cooperation initiative, trade, counter-terrorism, human rights, religious freedom and education.

Although originally stated to be a “farewell tour,” which was fixed when the nuclear agreement hung in the balance, Ms. Rice’s visit will see the signing of the U.S.-India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (123 Agreement) termed as the Bush Administration’s “only non-proliferation feat.”

U.S. Ambassador David Mulford is confident that both sides would be able to prepare the grounds for an agreement to be signed during her visit.

The Left parties will oppose the move to sign the 123 Agreement in her presence. They have given a call for ‘Black Day’ and asked the Manmohan Singh government not to “surrender” to the U.S.

Before leaving for her two-nation tour, Ms. Rice spoke on the implications of the Agreement, arguing that it would strengthen ties with India, provide economic and job opportunities to the U.S. economy and enhance America’s non-proliferation efforts.

At a reception hosted by the State Department in Washington to thank all those who had facilitated the passing of the Agreement in the Congress, she said, “The Agreement reflects a common commitment to share both the benefits of the international system and also the burdens and responsibilities of maintaining, strengthening and defending it. I look forward to a new strategic partnership with India that will provide global leadership in the years ahead.”

Ms. Rice will leave on Sunday for Kazakhstan, where she will meet its President Nursultan Nazarbayev and other government leaders. The largest Central Asian country rich in oil, gas and uranium reserves, Kazakshtan shares long borders with Russia and China, maritime domain with Iran and is not too far from Afghanistan. Against this geo-political backdrop, both sides are expected to discuss security and energy cooperation.

Minister of State for Industry Ashwani Kumar said the signing of the Agreement with the U.S. and other countries such as France and Russia will generate 20,000 MW of additional power by 2020 and help India meet its obligations regarding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It would also facilitate faster industrialisation and employment generation throughout the country.

“It is indeed a pity that even this accomplishment is being negatively politicised by the opponents of the United Progressive Alliance. Contrary to the misinformation campaign launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left, the primacy of the 123 Agreement which recognises India’s sovereign right to test a nuclear device has been maintained,” he added.

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