Pittsburgh/NY, September 26
The US today assured India that the UN Security Council resolution on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) issue is not directed against it and will not affect the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"We have been assured (by the US) that this is not a resolution directed against India and that the US commitment to carry out its obligations under the civil nuclear agreement, which we have signed with the United States, remains undiluted," Singh, who interacted twice with President Barack Obama during the G-20 Summit, told reporters here.

"That (commitment on the nuclear deal) we have been assured officially by the US Government," Singh said wrapping up his two-day visit. He was replying to a question about the UNSC resolution asking all non-NPT states, including India, to sign the NPT.

"Last night I met him (Obama) and today I was seated to his right during lunch. I discussed some important issues with him," Singh said on being asked whether he had any bilateral meetings with the US President. Singh said because of paucity of time, Obama did not have bilateral meetings with any leaders. In New York, after a meeting between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a senior US official said India’s position on NPT and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) will not impact the nuclear deal.

“We’ve said before that the resolution that was passed on Thursday unanimously by the Security Council does not have any bearing on our bilateral civil nuclear cooperation,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said while briefing reporters on the meeting.

The UNSC resolution piloted by Obama asks all non NPT signatories to join the treaty as non-nucelar weapon states but India, which views the treaty as flawed and discriminatory, has refused to accept it.

India has made it known to the UNSC that it cannot accept the “externally prescribed norms or standards” on issues that were contrary to its national interests or infringes on its sovereignty.

Blake said Clinton hoped that the two countries would move forward on civil nuclear cooperation.

“There are still some steps that have to be taken there, particularly with respect to signing liability legislation, getting the Indian parliament to approve liability legislation for our companies, but also to announce formally the reactor parks that will be set aside for US companies,” he said.

Clinton told the Indian minister that the US views India as one of our most important partners going forward in the 21st century, Blake said. — PTI