WASHINGTON, May 29 (KUNA) -- The United States described India as "an increasing important partner" late on Friday, and affirmed that the Iranian nuclear issue will be raised during the US-Indian strategic dialogue next week.
"India matters to the United States because it is the world's largest democracy, has the world's second-fastest growing economy and an economy that is a very important source of exports for United States companies, and also because it is an increasingly important partner for the United States in addressing common global concerns," said Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake in a press briefing about the upcoming US-India strategic dialogue.
He said that in just 10 years, there was a complete transformation in bilateral relations and a transformation that enjoys bipartisan support both in India and the United States, adding that there is a tremendous potential for growth in US relations with India.
Blake said that good signs of the growing cooperation between the United States and India included global issues like climate change, counterterrorism, food security, health and economic issues, as well as "on the very important nuclear issue, following up on the civil nuclear agreement in the Bush administration. Earlier this year we reached agreement on a nuclear reprocessing agreement that was concluded six months ahead of schedule." He said that the US is now following very closely the nuclear liability legislation that the Indian government has introduced into the Indian Parliament, and hoped that these will be consistent with the convention on supplementary compensation. "And if so and if passed, it would provide very important legal protection and open the way for billions of dollars in American reactor exports and thousands of jobs." The Indian delegation, including External Affairs Minister Krishna, will arrive next Tuesday and the US-Indian Business Council will hold on Wednesday its 35th annual meeting.
The strategic dialogue will convene next Thursday co-chaired by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Krishna.
Blake affirmed that the Iranian nuclear issue will be part of the discussion between US and Indian officials.
"I think the United States and India both share a concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions. And both of us are opposed to any kind of nuclear arms for Iran. And we understand the strategic consequences for both of us and for particularly for the Gulf region, were that to occur," he added, while noting that Under Secretary Bill Burns also raised this issue during his recent trip to India.
Blake noted that India's record of implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Iran and its record of votes in the IAEA have been "very welcome," and that this is an area where the two sides will continue to "cooperate closely." "India had the external affairs minister had a recent visit to Iran. I think probably one of the focuses of that was to talk about Afghanistan, since India and Afghanistan have a shared aversion for the Taliban," he concluded. - Kuna