WASHINGTON: The United States has said the civilian nuclear agreement with India is not the only element of bilateral ties but is part of a much broader framework. Speaking at a reception hosted by the State Department to honor those involved with the Indo-US nuclear deal, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the deal "is not the only element of the relationship" with India and that the friendship is based on ties that include economic and cultural.

"It (deal) is a part of a much broader framework," Rice said. Maintaining that there are a "lot of architects" in the nuclear agreement, Rice paid high tributes to those who facilitated the passage of legislation in Congress stressing that the culmination of the accord had cemented relationship between the two democracies.

Rice thanked the principals on Capitol Hill who were instrumental in getting the legislation through the Congress that included Acting Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Christopher Dodd and Senators Joseph Biden and Richard Lugar. She said she has also spoken with Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Howard Berman and Republican Ranking member Ielana Ros-Lehtinen. Speaking at the reception, Dodd said, "This is tremendously important moment" and added that it is indeed a "proud moment" in the bilateral relationship.

"Yesterday was one of the highlights of Senate history," said Lugar, who paid high tributes to President George W Bush and Singh. "This is a great moment for both countries and the world," he said. Ambassador Raminder Singh Jassal, Charge d'Affairs of the Indian Mission, hailed the vision of Singh and Bush and said the civilian nuclear agreement is only one aspect that had become "emblematic" of the bilateral relationship and that the two countries were beginning a new era in bilateral ties.

Among those who attended the reception are Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns, Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Rood and Republican Congressman Ed Royce of California. A large number of Indian American community leaders were also present on the occasion.