Despite India's assertion that Russia's move to supply fuel for the Tarapur nuclear plant was not violating any international law, the United States on Thursday said it was 'important' for New Delhi to fulfill its obligations under the Indo-US nuclear deal.
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Asked if the proposed Russian fuel sale to Tarapur will have any impact on American nuclear guidelines, US State Department acting spokesman Adam Ereli said, "I do not want to speculate on that. We have been clear that we recognise India's need for fuel. We are committed to secure a regular supply of fuel through the Nuclear Suppliers Group."
He said that the Bush administration was moving a draft legislation in the Congress, seeking amendment to the laws needed to implement the Indo-US nuclear cooperation deal.
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"The joint initiative and the legislation we will be presenting on Friday is designed to provide for the supply of fuel in that way, consistent with Indian commitments to undertake steps to bring it into compliance with IAEA safeguards. It is important that they do so as part of an effort to get nuclear fuel. And that frankly, it is all part of a broad and connected process," Ereli said.
US objects to Russian fuel for Tarapur
Reacting to reservations expressed by the Bush administration on Russia's move to supply fuel for Tarapur plant, an external affairs ministry spokesman had said in New Delhi on Wednesday that there was no violation of NSG guidelines and that Russia had approached the 45-member NSG under the Safety Exception Clause.