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Even before the India-United States civilian nuclear agreement gets a nod from the Nuclear Supplier's Group, a hint of the US Congressional opposition has surfaced, in the form of a salvo fired by Congressman Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
In a missive to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Berman has stated that he is "a friend of India and a supporter of US-India nuclear cooperation.
But he added, "I find it incomprehensible that the administration apparently intends to seek or accept an exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines for India with few or none of the conditions contained in the Henry J Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006."
Coverage: The Indo-US nuclear agreement
Berman, a California Democrat, was the author of several 'killer amendments' to the enabling Hyde Act when it was debated and voted on the floor in 2006, all of which were defeated.
He warned Rice, "Such an exemption would be inconsistent with US law, and will place American firms at a severe competitive disadvantage, and undermine critical US nonproliferation objectives."
"It would also jeopardise Congressional support for nuclear cooperation with India, this year and in the future," he added.
Hyde Act not binding on India: US
Berman pointed out in his letter that last year, he had introduced House Resolution 711, "a resolution that expresses the sense of the House that the President should withhold support from any proposed exemption for India in the NSG guidelines that is not fully consistent with the Hyde Act and that does not incorporate a number of key provisions, including:
The immediate termination of all nuclear commerce by NSG member states if India detonates a nuclear explosive device or if the IAEA determines that India has violated its safeguards commitments
Explained: The Indo-US nuclear deal
A requirement that the safeguards agreement concluded between India and the IAEA provides for safeguards in perpetuity for all nuclear facilities, materials, equipment and technology designated as 'civil,' in accordance with IAEA standards, principles and practices
A prohibition on the transfer of enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production technology by any NSG member state to India
A stipulation that NSG supplier states may not grant India consent to reprocess nuclear fuel except in a facility that is under permanent and unconditional safeguards."
'Clear waiver at NSG is a fantasy'
The lawmaker also reminded Rice that in her appearance "before the Foreign Affairs Committee on February 13 of this year, you assured me that any NSG decision will have to be completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act."
"As such," Berman wrote, "I expect you to instruct the US representative to the NSG not to seek or support any exemption for India that does not faithfully reflect all of the Hyde Act conditions."
He said it was his understanding that the current chair of the NSG, Germany, intends to schedule a plenary session of the body in late August to consider an exemption for India, with a second plenary session possible in early September.
Not enough time in US Congress to pass deal
"However, even if the members of the NSG were able to achieve consensus on the many complex issues related to the India exemption during those sessions, and the administration were able to submit the India agreement to Congress immediately after we convene on September 8, it is not likely that Congress will have sufficient time to fully consider all the issues and details surrounding the agreement, the associated safeguards agreement, and the NSG decisionand to ascertain their impact on US and global nonproliferation standardsprior to the target adjournment date of September 26."
Berman made clear to Rice that "any effort to consider the agreement outside of the requirements of current law will be impossible if the administration accepts the NSG exemption that fails to include the Hyde Act conditions."
He informed Rice that he was also "deeply concerned about the potential for a significant time gap between an accelerated NSG decision and Congressional action on the India agreement."
Lot of hurdles ahead for N-deal, says PM
Berman argued, "This would give other countries an unacceptable head-start in securing commercial nuclear contracts with the Indian government, thus placing US firms at a competitive disadvantage."
He wrote, "If the administration is unwilling to change its position and make clear to the other members of the NSG that it will only accept an exemption that fully conforms to the Hyde Act, then I would urge you in the strongest possible terms to suspend all US efforts to seek an NSG decision on India for the remainder of this administration."
"Given the lateness in the Congressional session, it would be better to review these complex matters in the next Congress when they can receive a full and serious examination," Berman suggested.