Bush admn rules out new conditions on N-deal

"We have a very active discussion with members of Congress. There is always a variety of views and sometimes you can get lost in that. I think there are a lot of supporters who have stood up in favour of this. There are people who have praised or criticised different aspects of the agreement and we have to deal with that," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said in an interview.

"There are a number of people who have raised the issue --actually it is Congressional prerogative--for Congress to vote on the bilateral agreement, something that Congressman (Tom) Lantos has raised and that is not a India issue. It is an issue for us and the Congress. But it is one that we have got to talk to them about," Boucher said.

"I think we are flexible in some terms, in terms of accommodating some of the desires of Congress and have us work with them. We certainly accept the views of Congress on different issues but we are also going to make clear that we cannot do things--legislations or conditions-- at this point that will break the deal," Boucher said emphatically.

On the London meeting between Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, he said it was "another good step forward" with India coming back with a response to the draft of the bilateral nuclear agreement.

Boucher said that though he does not have a full report of the meeting, based on early remarks it appears to have gone quite well. "They have had the time to have a very thorough discussion, a very detailed discussion on how to move forward with the relationship, on how we move forward with the Congress, nuclear suppliers, bilateral agreements".