The Hindu : Front Page : Rice takes steps to ratify nuclear deal

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Thursday, Sep 11, 2008
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Rice takes steps to ratify nuclear deal

Holds talks with Pelosi, Berman

Condoleezza Rice

Washington: In a bid to quicken the process of Congressional nod for the nuclear deal with India, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has met two key Democrats and powerful players – Nancy Pelosi and Howard Berman – and discussed how they could help in Congress ratifying the 123 agreement before the end of the session on September 26.

Ms. Rice met Ms. Pelosi, the powerful Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the two discussed the process of considering the 123 accord once it is submitted to for ratification, Ms. Pelosi’s spokesman Nadeam Elshami said.

“The Speaker looks forward to reviewing the submission in detail and consulting with Chairman Berman and members of the leadership in determining the appropriate course of action,” Mr. Elshami said.

The importance and urgency of the nuclear deal from the perspective of the administration and Congress is reflected in the fact that Ms. Pelosi, who visited India in March, broke away from a press conference with top Democratic Party leaders, saying she had a meeting with Ms. Rice on India.

Earlier, Ms. Rice met Mr. Berman, a vocal critic of the nuclear deal. He is also the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Though Congressional aides described the meeting as a “private meeting,” it was generally believed that the two discussed the modalities for winning Congressional approval for the nuclear deal in the 110th Congress, technically due to end on September 26.

Mr. Berman had warned Congress not to rush through the 123 agreement until the Bush Administration proved that it did not cut any “side deals” at the NSG meeting to get the India-specific waiver.

He said earlier this week that he would not consider any “expedited” timetable for considering the agreement until the government provided him more information about negotiations held at the NSG in Vienna.

“Full court press”

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack maintained that the administration was going to make a “full court press” — a basketball phrase that has to do with attacking the ball before it gets into court — with Congress and that Ms. Rice had spoken with a number of lawmakers, including Mr. Berman and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Senator Joseph Biden.

“We think there is a possibility of getting this passed this year and we are going to do everything we possibly can,” said Mr. McCormack. — PTI

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