M A I N   N E W S

US committed to N-energy deal
* Give diplomacy a chance in Iran, PM tells Bush
* Says flow of terror from Pak must stop for peace
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New York, September 14
India does not believe that US President George Bush is trying to draw a line between India-Iran relations on Teheran’s nuclear programme and implementing the joint agreement reached in July whereby Washington expressed its resolve to fully cooperate with India in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Mr Bush conveyed his commitment in unambiguous terms to the agreement to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here last evening when the latter called on him. He also hoped that the US Congress would approve the critical Indo-US joint agreement.

Briefing mediapersons about the Dr Singh-Mr Bush meeting, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was categoric that the question of bringing additional factors to the July 18 Indo-US agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy did not arise. “We stand by our commitment to each other,” Mr Saran observed.

He emphasised that Dr Singh’s official visit to Washington was a “landmark” one which attracted considerable worldwide attention. Mr Bush had affirmed his commitment to the civilian nuclear cooperation with India. He appeared to have set at rest concerns that the US cooperation in the nuclear energy sphere was predicated by its concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme and India’s traditional relations with that country.

Dr Singh reaffirmed that India was resolutely opposed to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Iran must adhere to the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it added.

At the same time, the Prime Minister underlined the need to give diplomacy a “genuine chance” to reach a consensus on the nuclear issue pertaining to Iran. The reference was to the Board of Governors meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on September 18 where India will work constructively.

During his 30-minute meeting with Mr Bush within hours of his arrival here at the initiative of Washington, Dr Singh informed Mr Bush that the Indian Parliament had fully supported the Indo-US joint statement of working together in the civilian uses of nuclear energy.

He, however, expressed surprise that former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee had criticised the joint statement.

Mr Bush did not mention to Dr Singh any concerns on Iran vis-a-vis its nuclear ambitions. Dr Singh agreed to keep in touch and work together at the Board of Governors meeting of the IAEA.

On Pakistan, Dr Singh made it clear to Mr Bush that the flow of terror must stop for any realistic progress in the Indo-Pak peace process. In conclusion, Mr Bush commended Dr Singh, saying “you are a good man and we can do business with you.”

Bush praises India

US President George W. Bush today praised India for “leading” a new global campaign on democracy. Opening the three-day World Summit at the United Nations this morning, he lauded New Delhi for taking the leadership position in the democracy campaign.

The American President said he was happy to note that New Delhi had donated 10 million US dollars to the newly set up initiative, known as UN Democracy Fund, according to an agency report.

Annan rues lack of consensus on reforms
Dharam Shourie

United Nations, September 14
Regretting failure of the member-states to achieve consensus on sweeping and fundamental reforms needed by the UN, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged world leaders to ensure that they implemented what had been agreed to and work with determination to make progress on other urgent issues.

Opening the summit being attended by more than 160 heads of state and government, he stressed on the importance of multilateralism, asserting that even the strongest cannot alone meet the challenges of peacemaking.

“At the same time, whether our task is fighting poverty, stemming the spread of disease or saving innocent lives from mass murder, we have seen that we cannot succeed without the leadership of the strong and the engagement of all,” he said. — PTI