U.S.: Nuclear Deal With India Draws Near

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-other/2007/may/01/050108519.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Meetings meant to jump-start a U.S.-Indian civilian nuclear cooperation plan ended Tuesday with the United States saying a final agreement could be settled this month.

India's foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, came to Washington for talks with U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns about a deal U.S. officials have portrayed as a way to transform a strategic relationship with a rising, democratic power in Asia.

"We're both confident that we can do this," Menon told reporters. "The quicker the better."

The deal cleared a major hurdle in December when Bush signed a congressionally approved exception to U.S. law to allow the shipment of civilian nuclear fuel to India. The countries must still settle technical negotiations on an overall cooperation plan, and frustration has been evident on both sides.

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[bananas]

1. Democrats 'expresses worry over what they say is India's "growing defense relationship" with Iran'

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While the officials met, American critics ratcheted up complaints over a plan they say would spark a nuclear arms race in Asia by allowing India to use the extra nuclear fuel that the deal would provide to free up its domestic uranium for its weapons program.

Democratic Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Democratic Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., have sent a letter to President Bush that expresses worry over what they say is India's "growing defense relationship" with Iran.

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