New Delhi: The US on Wednesday said its concerns with regard to India's Nuclear Liability law have been addressed and negotiations have begun between the companies of the two countries for setting up atomic plants in India.
Identifying civil nuclear cooperation with India as a high priority area for the US, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake said it offers not only a "huge commercial opportunity" but a chance to help India meets its
growing energy needs.
"I think, they have been," he said when asked whether the concerns over India's Civil Nuclear Liability Law had been addressed.
Interacting with select journalists from India and some other South Asian nations through tele-conferencing, Blake said the concerns had been addressed by India's assurance that it would ratify the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damages in the coming year and provide a level-playing field for American companies.
"Our companies have begun negotiations to help provide reactors to meet India's energy needs," the US official said.
American companies had been apprehensive about certain aspects of the Liability Act, particularly those fixing liability on suppliers, and had been wanting the concerns to be addressed before commercial aspect of the civil nuclear cooperation could be initiated.
Blake referred to the "landmark" visit of President Barack Obama in New Delhi last month and said the US was working to forge closer relationship with India in various spheres outlined during the "watershed" trip.
Identifying economic field as one of these, he said the US wants to expand trade and investment. "A lot is happening but we feel much more can be done in that area," the Assistant Secretary of State said in the interaction with PTI besides a journalist each from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
He said the US was also keen to expand relations with India in the global context, like trilateral cooperation in Afghanistan, Africa, non-proliferation and climate change besides at the UN Security Council where New Delhi will take up non-permament membership for two years from January next.
"India and the US will now work on initiatives beyond the bilateral relations," Blake said, adding it will have
far-reaching implications at global levels.
"We are the two leading democracies, we are the two leading market economies, we are the countries which want to take responsibilities on global priorities and challenges," he noted.
Blake was asked about the feeling in India that the US has relaxed its pressure on Pakistan lately although the latter had not done much to punish those behind the Mumbai attacks.
Responding to it, he said it was important for the US and Pakistan to address concerns over terrorism that exist in
that country and Pakistan needs to do more although it has made some progress in Swat and Waziristan.
He quoted Obama as saying that "no country has suffered more than Pakistan" on account of terrorism and that India should work with the US and other countries to help stabilise Pakistan.
A stable and prosperous Pakistan, Blake said, would be in the interest of India as well as the world.
On Nepal, he voiced US' disappointment over the continued political stalemate. He said the US suports efforts for the success of the 2006 peace process and redrafting of the Constitution which is to be completed by May next.
Making it clear that the term of the UN Mission in Nepal would not be extended beyond January 15, Blake said the parties needed to work themselves to reach an agreement on power-sharing.
With regard to Sri Lanka, he said the US would like the allegations of war crimes to be probed properly.
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