"We believe that this agreement between the US and India is important in our overall global non-proliferation efforts," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told mediapersons at his daily briefing.
What is the End-Use Monitoring Agreement?
"It is a very significant agreement. We are very proud," he said.
The agreement between the two countries was signed during the recently concluded India visit of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"End use means is basically making sure that material once it is delivered does not go to any other party unless there is some, sort of, agreement by the US," Wood said.
"We believe that this agreement brought India into the nuclear non-proliferation mainstream. It is a landmark event," he said.
India has not signed end user agreement with US, says Menon
Asked how the US would carry out the verification, Wood said, "I am not going to get into the details. Those types of issues will be worked out between the two sides and in consultation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other players."
Responding to a question on opposition raised on EUMA by opposition parties in India, Wood said the agreement is in the best interest of both the countries
"India made a conscious decision to sign this agreement. India has said it's in its best interests. We certainly think it's in the interests of the United States," Wood said.
"We think it is an overall good agreement. And we will need to implement the agreement. Those activities are already under way. But I really just don't have anything to say about, you know, a specific comment on it," he said.
