Asserting that the India-United States nuclear deal does not undercut the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen has said the two countries have entered into a 'new framework of cooperation' that has brought 'tangible benefits' to both.

"We are not in violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty because we have never signed it, nor will we. But, we will never try to undermine it either," he told a luncheon meeting at the East-West Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Thursday.

According to the Centre's website, Sen said the only people surprised by the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement were those still 'trapped in the mindset of the past'.

He stressed that the new relationship between the United States and India went far beyond the nuclear element that has claimed most of the media attention.

"The partnership has brought tangible benefits to both countries," he said, adding, "We have entered into a new framework of cooperation."

Sen said the two countries have come together in a manner that 'would have been inconceivable a couple of years ago'.

He characterised the recent India trip of President George W Bush [Images] and its positive outcome as a 'fundamental reaffirmation of (our) relationship with the United States'.

The agreements signed in New Delhi were 'good for both countries', the Ambassador said, adding the closer relationship between the two nations 'makes the world safer'.

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• President Bush in India
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