The Hindu : National : Pranab: no legal barrier to deals with Russia, France

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Pranab: no legal barrier to deals with Russia, France

Special Correspondent

New Delhi: Clarifying the impression created to the contrary by media reports of his remarks two days earlier, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday that there was no “legal” barrier to India entering into nuclear agreements with Russia and France immediately following the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s waiver last week.

In an interview to CNN-IBN, Mr. Mukherjee said he was giving a “clarification in very clear and unmistakable terms.” Nuclear trade with the U.S. cannot begin unless the 123 agreement is ratified by the U.S. Congress.

“It cannot be implemented so that part is quite clear. So for the arrangements with other countries, where there is no such procedure, where there is no such legal predicament, it can be done, but it depends on the talks between other supplier groups.”

On Monday, Mr. Mukherjee was quoted as saying India would have to wait for the 123 agreement to be ratified before it could enter into agreements with other countries.

Asked whether the government was ready to sign an agreement with France during the Prime Minister’s visit there later this month, and with Russia as well, the Minister replied, “I cannot give you the timeframe.” But he said there was no legal barrier. “[In] those countries, there is no such legal system, which is prevalent in the U.S.”

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