M A I N   N E W S

USA lifts curbs on sale of chopper spares

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (UNI) — Within a fortnight of assuming office, the Bush Administration has given a go ahead to the sale of American spares for the Indian Navy’s Sea King helicopters.

This is the first defence- related sale to India by the USA after the sanctions were imposed on India after the Pokhran nuclear tests.

The British firm manufacturing Sea King helicopters was prevented from exporting the American spare parts because of the us sanctions against india. The British firm and the Indian Government had been pressing the US Administration to ease the arms export control act to allow the import of spare parts.

The presidential proclamation easing the Arms Export Control Act was listed in the federal register (equivalent of gazette notification) today, India’s Ambassador to the USA Naresh Chandra told a press briefing here.

The Bush Administration had time and again expressed its opposition to the use of sanctions for conducting American foreign policy. During his confirmation hearing Secretary of State Colin Powell had dwelt on the futility of sanctions.