Bush urges India to cooperate on nuclear plans

Bush urges India to cooperate on nuclear plans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday urged India to produce a plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs to bring its civilian plan into the international mainstream.

The two governments reached an agreement in principle last July that would give India access to foreign civilian nuclear energy technology for the first time in 30 years.

But the two sides are at odds over a critical element in the deal, which would require India to open more of its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspection, while military sites remained off-limits.

Bush, in a speech to the Asia Society previewing a trip next week to India and Pakistan, said India should bring its civilian nuclear program under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"I'll continue to encourage India to produce a credible, transparent and defensible plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs," Bush said.

The U.S.-India deal would give India access to long-denied civilian nuclear technology, including fuel and reactors. Analysts say the failure to resolve key practical differences could mar Bush's trip.

"Implementing this agreement will take time and it will take patience from both our countries," Bush said.


as reported on Reuters.