No "unilateral" access under End-User Verification pact: US

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) Allaying fears that it will have
open access to Indian military sites and equipment under the
bilateral End-User monitoring arrangement, the US Wednesday
said there is no provision which provides for "unilateral"
verification by it under the pact.

Addressing his first press conference after assuming the
charge of US ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer said there
are laws in the US which require signing of such pacts to
monitor the usage of sensitive equipments acquired from
America.

Informing that the US has signed such agreements with
nearly 80 countries, he said "when we sell our most sensitive
and effective equipment around the world, it is essential by
our law, Congress and President, that we know where it is and
how it is used."

He said there is nothing which provides "unilateral
access" to the US government under the pact.

The EUMA, finalised during the visit of US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton, provided for US experts to verify
imported defence equipments.

The government has come under a lot of attack from
opposition members for finalising the EUMA, which they said
has compromised India's sovereignty and given free access to
military sites and equipment for US inspections. PTI PYK
DDC
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