Indo-US nuke deal not done, Manmohan says problems to be sorted out soon - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday that some minor problems regarding reprocessing will be sorted out soon, resulting in early operationalisation of the civil nuclear deal with the US. Speaking to reporters in the Willard Room of the Willard Intercontinental Hotel here this afternoon, Dr. Singh said: "I had very good discussions...that the government of the US remains committed to an early implementation of the nuclear deal. "We agreed on the early and full implementation of our civil nuclear cooperation agreement. This paves the way for transfer of high technology items to India," he said. "There are some minor problems regarding reprocessing. There are no insurmountable problems. But I am confident that we can sort these out in the next few weeks," Dr. Singh added. Earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Singh and US President Barack Obama pledged on Tuesday to fully implement the civil nuclear deal signed by the two countries in 2008. The deal allows the US to sell advanced nuclear related technology to India for use in civilian power. "President Obama has affirmed that it is common resolve of two governments to operationalise the nuke deal as early as possible," said Dr. Singh when asked about the operationalisation of the deal. "We should cooperate in addressing global challenges of combating terrorism, making our environment cleaner, and moving towards a world free of nuclear weapons," he added. To prevent the spread of atomic weapons and pursuing the shared vision of a nuclear arms-free world, President Obama said India could be a full partner of the US in this regard. "As nuclear powers, we can be full partners in preventing the spread of the world''s most deadly weapons, securing loose nuclear materials from terrorists, and pursuing our shared vision of a world without nuclear weapons," Obama said after his meeting with Dr. Singh. The nuclear deal is seen as the centrepiece of the strong ties between the two countries in recent years.