The Obama Administration says it is happy and satisfied that India and the US were able to clinch the nuclear fuel reprocessing agreement reflecting their deeper relationship and helping the civil nuclear deal move forward.
"I think it's a reflection of the deepening of our relationship. We think that the 123 Agreement is in the interest of both the United States, India, and has broader impact as well," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P J Crowley told reporters when asked to comment
on the bilateral reprocessing pact announced on Monday.
The pact is another step towards full implementation of the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal and two more steps remain.
The advance consent agreement is only the third of its kind ever undertaken by the US, which has such pacts with the European Consortium EUROATOM and Japan. It grants India advance consent to reprocess spent fuel of US origin and fuel burnt in American reactors.
As the two teams overcame several hurdles in their effort to complete the negotiations in time, Crowley termed it as "brilliant diplomacy" and said the State Department is
satisfied that the agreement is moving forward.
Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher pointed to the significant and prized relationship between the two countries.
"We're very happy to see that this agreement is moving forward, and the reprocessing agreement is one piece of a very large 123 Agreement, and we're happy to see that it's moved
forward," Tauscher said.
The State Department also released the text of the arrangements and procedures agreed between India and the US.
"It was an agreement that required some follow-up, some detail. Obviously, we had to advise our Congress about it. Likewise, the Indian Government worked through the issues. So
I think anytime that you not only reach an agreement but then can see it begin to be enacted, that develops trust and confidence on both sides. I think this reflects a much broader, deeper, and expanded relationship between our two
countries," Crowley told reporters in response to a question.
Starting July last year, a high-level team from both countries held several round of talks on this crucial aspect of the Indo-US 123 Agreement, which gives New Delhi prior consent to reprocess.
The negotiations, held between a team of India's Department of Atomic Energy officials led by its director, strategic planning group, RB Grover and Richard Stratford, the non-proliferation and disarmament expert in US State Department, were aimed at finalising this pact.
Terming it as a "truly great news," President of the US India Business Council, Ron Somers, said the agreement distinguished India as a true partner in high technology cooperation for the long future.
The US had previously granted similar rights only to the European consortium EURATOM and Japan.