US and India Seal Nuclear Agreement
Posted on October 13, 2008 in Current Affairs by Danteshwari
US and India have sealed the civil nuclear deal after a tough three-year period of negotiations. India has ensured that fuel supply assurances are now legally-binding on both U.S and India and are both equally responsible and obliged to implement it.
The 123 agreement, making the nuclear deal operational, was signed by Indian external affairs minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and US secretary of state Ms. Condoleezza Rice. This allows the Americans to take their share in the multi-billion dollar Indian nuclear stake.
The deal brings an end to the three decades of restrictive policy of the US towards India in the nuclear arena. The agreement provisions are legally binding on the part of both the countries once it comes into force. It indicates the trust that exists between both the countries.
The article 5.6 of the agreement highlights the assurance given by US for supplying uninterrupted fuel supplies to India for “the lifetime of a reactor under IAEA safeguards.”
In case, either of the country ceases civil nuclear cooperation, a one-year notice will have to be given by either of the country, which wants to terminate the deal.
The road to signing of the agreement was indeed an arduous one as both the countries were suspicious of the other. Often doubts were expressed whether the agreement would be signed or not. But eventually, it was finalized meeting up to the expectations of both the countries.
source: TOI October 13th 2008
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