Indian, US officials fast-tracking parleys on reprocessing

Ajay Kaul
Geneva, Nov 22 (PTI) Indian and US officials are fast-
tracking their negotiations to conclude a deal on reprocessing
of spent fuel, a key step in implementation of the civil
nuclear accord, by the time Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh meets President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday.

The implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was
in "the last stretch" and the two sides were trying hard to
conclude the negotiations on reprocessing, sources
accompanying the Prime Minister to Washington said.
This would be reflected in the joint statement to be
issued after Singh-Obama talks at the White House on Tuesday,
they said.
Singh left this morning for Washington on a four-day
state visit after a night halt here.
On the Dedicated Reprocessing Facility to be set up by
India as per the 123 Agreement, the sources said a team of
Indian officials is already in the US, ahead of the Prime
Minister's visit, to negotiate "one or two remaining issues".
India will also provide assurance on non-proliferation
required by the US Energy Department to give licences under
Section 810 to companies for civil nuclear deal with New
Delhi.
These two steps, besides enactment of the Civil Nuclear
Liabilities legislation by India, have been holding up the
implementation of the deal reached last year.
The Liabilities Bill has been cleared by the Cabinet
and will be introduced in Parliament soon, the sources said.
PTI AKK
DDC


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