IndiaPost.com - Pranab coming for N-deal talks

WASHINGTON: The civil nuclear deal touted as the "symbolic centerpiece" of bilateral relationship by the Bush administration will be the focus of talks External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will have during his visit to the US next month. "We are looking forward to his (Mukherjee's) visit next month," Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns told PTI.

The dates are yet to be fixed, the top official who is the US pointsman for the nuclear deal, said after a meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations here. "Secretary of State (Condoleezza) Rice is looking forward to welcoming Foreign Minister Mukherjee to the United States and obviously we want to focus on the major issues in our relationship, our regional cooperation in South Asia, Afghanistan, our civilian nuclear accord, energy cooperation, our space cooperation and our relationship across the board," Burns said.

Pressing India to move ahead on civilian nuclear cooperation, Burns, who will step down in March but will continue as special envoy for the nuclear deal, said "this will be the symbolic centerpiece of the relationship. It also ends India's 35 years of isolation in the civilian nuclear field and to be treated fairly and equitably by the international community." In his formal remarks at the Council meeting, Burns argued that the "United States could not and should not go alone in the world" and that the strategic focus of Washington has changed with more attention to Middle East and South Asia.

"We have to play in all fields, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia," he said. July timeline 'realistic' Meanwhile, the Bush administration has said "internal pressure" within India to swiftly move on the civilian nuclear deal is "good" and termed the July timeline for its approval as "realistic". "... That is our appreciation of the timeline as well," Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said when asked to comment on Senator Joseph Biden's statement during his recent New Delhi visit that the nuclear deal has to be approved so that it is taken up in Congress by June and ratified by July.

He said the July timeline put forth by Biden "is realistic" as the initiative will have to get to Congress before the summer recess. Asked about the deadline, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said "we have a little bit more time than that, obviously, on the calendar before the end of the president's term. "But if there's internal pressure from inside India for them to move more quickly, I think that's good.

And I saw a report that said that there are some elements within India that are very supportive of getting the deal done." Answering a question on the civilian nuclear initiative during the interactive session at the Council on Foreign Relations here, Burns said "the only way India can emerge from this nuclear isolation is to have this agreement go forward. If this fails, I think it will be several years or many years before another attempt is made."

He stressed that there was bipartisan support for the deal in Congress and a "very strong majority of countries internationally" are strong supporters of the Nuclear Suppliers Group granting exemption to India. "So at some point India will need to decide to go forward...Because this will be the symbolic centerpiece of the relationship.

It also ends India's 35 years of isolation in the civilian nuclear field and to be treated fairly and equitably by the international community," Burns said. The top official, who will step down next month but has been asked to continue as US' special envoy on the deal, said the Indo-US ties will continue to remain strong.

"I think the US-India relations are going to remain very strong. We have a lot of areas we can work in and we have gone through a lot together. I think the future is very bright," Burns told reporters after addressing the Council here. He said the deal presented an opportunity to India to derive the benefits of nuclear energy and to be treated fairly by the rest of the world.

"We think it is a good deal and it is now up to India and we trust it will make the best decision," Burns told the gathering. "This is a very substantial deal. It is going to be good for India and the United States. We want to see it go forward," he said.