NEW DELHI, 17 November 2006 — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the United States yesterday to ensure that a landmark India-US nuclear deal does not deviate from its original form, hours before a likely Senate debate over it.
Manmohan sought these assurance after a telephone conversation with President George W. Bush, two days after arms control advocates urged changes in the delayed pact that has drawn flak from advocates of nonproliferation.
“The prime minister expressed appreciation for the president’s commitment to the passage of the legislation and hoped that the bill, in its final form, will accommodate India’s stated concerns,”
During their five-minute conversation, Manmohan “expressed appreciation” for Bush’s “commitment to the passage of the legislation in the US Congress that will enable India to engage in global nuclear commerce after three decades of technology denial regimes.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, heading a high-level delegation, arrived here yesterday on a two-day India visit aimed at strengthening Indo-Iranian relations.
Ahead of his visit, Mottaki said: “I will confer with Indian officials on the most important political and economic issues such as the latest regional developments and major joint ventures particularly in energy and transportation sectors in my upcoming trip to the country.”
Mottaki called on Manmohan yesterday evening. Earlier, he had a meeting with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and with Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon. He is expected to have separate meetings today with Indian Oil and Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and with National Security Adviser M.K. Narayan.
Mottaki’s delegation includes Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Sheikh Attar, Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eslami, and Deputy Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saqaeean. This is Mottaki’s first visit to India since becoming the minister.
India is keen to further strengthen its ties with Iran after having voted twice against Iran’s nuclear program at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).
The issue to rework the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects, which have yet to take off because of differences on prices and other aspects, will also figure in discussions between Mottaki and Indian leaders.
Apart from concern voiced in Washington, the proposed gas pipeline 2,600-kilometer (1,615-mile) project is facing a hurdle, as India and Pakistan want to pay less than what had been proposed by Iran for the gas.
