What PM said; What facts say
by Readiff on Aug 14, 2007 07:16 PM
What PM said; What facts say
1 "The United States has a longstanding policy of not supplying to any country enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production facilities."
Wrong. The Hyde Act%u2019s Explanatory Statement itself notes that cooperation in the areas of uranium enrichment, reprocessing of spent fuel and heavy water production "is not restricted" under the Atomic Energy Act, "but agreements for cooperation must specify if such cooperation is to take place".
It also notes that the 123 agreement with Australia specifically allows for such cooperation.
2 "There is no provision that states that US cooperation with India will be subject to an annual certification process."
Wrong. In the Hyde Act it is explicitly mandated that the President has to send his annual "assessment" to Congress on whether "India is in full compliance" with its various US-imposed "commitments and obligations," including on Iran, and whether the "activities and programmes funded under" the legislation "are achieving the goals."
3"There is nothing in the Agreement that would tie the hands of a future Government or legally constrain its options to protect India%u2019s security and defence needs."
Wrong. A test prohibition against India has been methodically built into its provisions through the incorporation of the US "right to return". Besides the test ban, the US Congress has sought to subject India%u2019s nuclear-weapons programme to sustained US scrutiny.
