KRISHNA-US 2 LAST

On the India-US relations, Krishna said the ties had
reached a new high but there are "some areas" where the "edges
will have to be smoothened".
In this context, he referred to apprehensions among some
US companies with regard to the Nuclear Liability law which
was enacted during the Monsoon session of Parliament that
ended early last month.
The law, which was a crucial requirement for
operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, provides for
liability of supplier companies in the event of a nuclear
accident in India.
Krishna said he had discussed this issue with Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton and assured the American side that
the Nuclear Liability Bill was passed not keeping any
particular country in mind, "much less the US".
The External Affairs Minister said the idea behind the
bill was to provide a level-playing field and this is what has
been conveyed to the US, as also France, Russia and others.
Any further apprehensions will be sorted out when things
start moving, he said.
He invited all the interested companies to participate in
the sector, promising that all decisions would be taken on
merit.
Asked whether India would be joining the International
Convention on Supplementary Compensation as being pressed by
some foreign companies, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said
the government has an "open and positive mind" on it. PTI AKK
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