Bush, Singh discuss bilateral nuclear deal (Roundup)

Jul 12, 2007, 13:29 GMT

New Delhi - US President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed efforts to break the deadlock preventing the successful conclusion of a bilateral civil nuclear power deal, officials and reports said Thursday.

Singh spoke to Bush by telephone on Wednesday evening and discussed the nuclear deal ahead of talks between the national security advisers of both countries on the issue in Washington next week, a spokesman in the Indian Prime Minister's Office said.

'They were of the view that these discussions will reinforce our strong bilateral relations,' a statement issued by the office said.

'The prime minister and the US president also said that they both are looking forward to continue their own discussions at their next meeting.'

The talks between India's National Security Advisor MK Naryanan and his US counterpart Stephen Hadley due on July 16 are being seen as an attempt to give a political push to the ongoing negotiations in a 'make or break' phase, the Times of India newspaper said.

The two sides are hoping to resolve the impasse over India's insistence on reprocessing spent fuel provided by the US, which Washington is not ready to agree to.

During informal talks between the two sides on the margins of the G8 summit in Germany in June, India had suggested setting up a standalone facility for reprocessing spent fuel and placing it under international safeguards as a way to break the deadlock over the reprocessing issue.

Even after the two countries finalize the deal, the US cannot export nuclear technology or materials to India until the 46-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group that controls all trade in fissile materials allows such trade with India.

Bush and Singh agreed to the deal in March 2006 after India agreed to separate its military and civilian nuclear programmes and allow international inspections of its civilian reactors.