Click to play videoNew Delhi: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to India ended without the Indo-US civil nuclear deal being inked.
Though, Rice said that Washington believes that the deal is done, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that New Delhi will wait for President George W Bush to first sign the bill passed by the US Congress into law.
“Let me be clear that the 123 Agreement is done. It is a matter of signing that agreement. I don’t want anyone to think that we have open issues. In fact we don't have open issues. It is administrative matter of signing,” said Rice.
“We have completed the processes. After the signing of the nuclear bill by the US, the deal will be signed on mutually agreed date. Civil nuclear deal is its last lap and we are looking forward to signing the deal,” Mukherjee said.
India also wants to see Bush make a written statement overriding the controversial clauses on fuel supplies. But Rice evaded a direct question on whether that would be forthcoming.
The US Secretary of State said that Hyde Act was consistent with the 123 Agreement.
If Bush’s statement is not able to clear Mukherkjee’s doubts, New Delhi could choose Kazakhstan over Amercia for its uranium need.
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