India, US agree to early action on n-deal

New Delhi, Nov 24 : India and the US have agreed for an "early" implementation of the agreement on civil nuclear cooperation, but have not been able to sign a nuclear reprocessing deal yet due to last minute glitches.

"It is the common resolve of our two governments to operationalise the deal," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters at a joint conference with US President Barack Obama at the White House. "There are still some I's and some T's to be crossed out."

Sources told IANS that the differences between the two sides had been narrowed down to one and a half clause in the draft text for an agreement on reprocessing spent fuel in a dedicated national facility under international safeguards.

India and the US had decided on an historic agreement on civil nuclear cooperation during the term of George W. Bush, but since then both countries have fallen back in translating this into commercial deals. India has already signed agreements for nuclear reactors and technology with France and Russia.

"I have assurances that the process will be completed without further loss of time," said Singh.

President Obama said that he was also for the "full and early implementation" of the agreement, which had led India to come out of cold on global nuclear trade.

The Indian leader also batted for the removal of restrictions on transfer of dual technology. "Our strategic partnership should facilitate the transfer of dual technology to India," he said.

Singh said that "lifting of US export control on high technology exports to India will open vast opportunities for giant research and development efforts", adding that it will also benefit the US industry.