In significant comments at the signing ceremony, Bush assured there will be no changes in fuel supply commitments as contained in the 123 Agreement. "India can count on reliable fuel supplies(from US) for its reactors," Bush said.
Bush inked the authorising legislation finally approved by the US Congress last week in a high profile ceremony at the White House's ornate East Room reversing 34 years of US policy to eventually allow American businesses to have a share of India's 100 billion dollar nuclear pie.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will formally sign the overall bilateral nuclear cooperation accord on Friday evening itself in a surprise announcement made by the State Department hours before Bush's signature on the implementing legislation.
"On Friday at 4 o'clock (0130 IST Saturday) the secretary will sign with the Indian foreign minister, Foreign Minister Mukherjee, the India Civil Nuclear Agreement," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
"This follows on the president's signature today of implementing legislation in the United States," he added.
In a major foreign policy success, Bush put his signature on " H R 7081, United States- India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act " in the presence of Vice-President Dick Cheney, Rice, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen, lawmakers, prominent members of the Indian American community and leading businessmen of the two countries.
Bush: Congress passage of Bill a milestone achievement
Soon after signing into law the legislation on the historic Indo-US nuclear deal, US president George W Bush has described passage of the Bill by Congress as a "milestone" in achieving the vision set by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and himself three years ago.
"I am pleased to sign into law the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, which approves the US-India 123 Agreement.
"The passage of this legislation by the Congress marks another major milestone in achieving the vision that Prime Minister Singh and I set forth on July 18, 2005, to transform the relationship between our countries," Bush said in a statement released by the White House after he signed the legislation H R 7081 into law.
"This Act will strengthen the relationship between the US and India and deliver valuable benefits to both nations. The legislation does not change the terms of the 123 Agreement as I submitted it to the Congress. That Agreement is consistent with the Atomic Energy Act and other elements of US law. This legislation is important as it enables me to bring the 123 Agreement into force and to accept on behalf of the United States the obligations contained in the Agreement," he added.
"The Agreement grants India advance consent to reprocessing which will be brought into effect upon conclusion of arrangements and procedures for a dedicated reprocessing facility under IAEA safeguards," Bush said.
"In addition, the legislation does not change the fuel assurance commitments that the US Government has made to the Indian government as recorded in the 123 Agreement," he added.
"The passage of this legislation reflects the common view of my Administration and the Congress as to the value of nuclear cooperation and is in the interest of US and India," Bush said.
Bush and Singh approved the deal on July 18, 2005 during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington.
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