US President George W. Bush on Saturday hailed the US Congress’s passage of a landmark bill allowing civilian nuclear fuel and technology to be exported to India for the first time in 30 years.
“I am pleased that our two countries will soon have increased opportunities to work together to meet our energy needs in a manner that does not increase air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, promotes clean development, supports nonproliferation and advances our trade interests,” Bush said in a statement.

“I appreciate Congress’s support for the US-India civil nuclear cooperation initiative,” Bush said, adding: “I look forward to signing this bill into law soon.”

The US Senate passed the deal by voice vote early Saturday, after an all-night session. The House of Representatives approved it 330-59 late Friday.

The legislation reconciles separate bills adopted by the House and Senate aimed at implementing a nuclear agreement between Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July of last year.

Under the controversial deal, India, a non-signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), will be given access to civilian nuclear fuel and technology in return for placing its atomic reactors under global scrutiny.

The US Congress had to create a rare exception for India from some of the requirements of the US Atomic Energy Act, which currently prohibits nuclear sales to non-NPT signatories.

Washington halted nuclear cooperation with India after it conducted its first nuclear test in 1974.

Source: AFP