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USA reviewing sanctions: Rocca
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 24
Nuclear non-proliferation issue continues to be the dominant US policy for South Asia, the Assistant Secretary of State (South Asia Affairs), Ms Christina Rocca, said while indicating that Washington was reviewing removal of sanctions imposed on India following the Pokhran two tests in May, 1998.

US Assistant Secretary of  State for  South Asia Christina B Rocca shaking hands with Subodh Bhargava, past president CII & Wartsila Dieslel, in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI photo

Ms Rocca said getting beyond sanctions would do much to deepen bilateral relationship. Non-proliferation would remain an important goal of the US policy, she said at a meeting organised by India’s premier business association, the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The US official, on a “familiarisation trip” to the region said Washington was interested in “expanding and transforming its engagement on defence issues with India”.

Commenting on the Agra summit between India and Pakistan, the senior Bush administration official said the US strongly supported sustained, senior-level engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad which was also pertinent in the context of the South Asian security.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf, failed to reach an agreement on the joint declaration after several hours of one-to-one brainstorming at Agra.

“Though India and Pakistan did not reach an agreement on a final joint statement, it was a step in the right direction”, Ms Rocca said, as the leaders of the South Asian nuclear powers met for the first time in two years.

Ms Rocca’s trip also assumes significance in the context of US investment in India, especially in the view of the controversial Dabhol power project promoted by US energy giant Enron Corporation, which also happened to be among the major funders during the Bush election campaign.

“The Enron imbroglio has negatively impacted the investment climate in India. It will be difficult for international investors to view India favourably until it is resolved”, she said.

The US companies had expressed interest in investing in India, but were are deterred by the investment climate which was not quite optimal, she observed.

Stating that the level on protectionism in India was still too high, Ms Rocca said a new round of the WTO negotiations would not only enable the Indian economy to emerge more export oriented and competitive but with lower trade barriers in other developing countries, major export markets would be opened for Indian goods and services.