No surmountable problem in Nuclear liability bill: Menon

“On the nuclear liability,I think,what we need to do is to work our way through the issue. There are concerns among US companies about how the Indian Act will apply to them and what kind of liability it will mean for suppliers,” he said.

Noting that India wants to start the conversation with the companies,he said the lawyers have consistently told the government that this act does not impose any additional obligation on the suppliers.

“We are hoping to finish all the governmental work we have to do on the liability issue before the (President Obama) visit so that by the time we go into the visit,we start the negotiations and then really the companies see their own way forward,” the Indian NSA said.

Strongly refuting concerns of the US’ nuclear industry that the Bill was not consistent with international standards and thus would be difficult for them to do business with India,Menon said: “I do not think,it is going to be as difficult as we make it out to be… Once the bill is done and becomes an act,then I think,we see how it actually works.”

Menon said: “We do not see any surmountable amount of problem in working the solution of the civil liability for nuclear damage act in practise which will prevent US companies from work. They have concerns,we would be very happy to sit down and talk with them.”

The NSA argued that he does not think that the Indian law varies from international law to any greater degree than several other national law.

“If you look at different national laws… There is a whole range of laws. But there is certain common body of international law,which applies,which is why we intend to sign the Convention on Supplementary Compensation,which I think codifies that in one place. Our lawyers says that what we have done — the act is in keeping with the CSC — that is entirely in conformity,” he said.

The simply way,Menon said,was to work way through the companies and to see that the Nuclear Liability Bill is in practise.

“One thing that we want is to avoid the argument between the lawyers,because that will be very expensive and will take a long time,what we want to do is sit down with the companies and actually look at the practicality,because from the CEOs point of view he needs the assurance that he is not signing off his company into some unlimited liability,” Menon said.

“That’s what he (CEO) is worried about. He is not worried about what the law might say,he is worried about the effect on his company that’s what we think we can address,that’s what we are hoping to do with the companies.

“We think actually that by doing this and by actually starting this commercial negotiations,by signing the convention,doing all series of steps we think that this is doable,” Menon said.

‘Elections in Myanmar may offer hope’

Defending India’s policy of engaging its neighbour,National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said the election in Myanmar in November may be a “significant step” toward democracy.

The election in Myanmar “could be one step and a significant step in their transition,but I think we all have to work at it with the Myanmarese to see that it comes out right,” Menon said in response to a question at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,a Washington-based think-tank.

Referring to the insurgency in the North East side which borders Myanmar,Menon said the two countries have common interest in the security of the area.

India has also tried to work with Myanmar junta,which has suppressed democracy and is accused of violating human rights of its own people,to develop their economy,he added.

“We’ve tried to engage with Myanmar and to encourage Myanmar in what they themselves say is their attempt to rebuild democracy and to come back to the international mainstream,” Menon said.

In the last couple of years,India has emerged as a key ally of Myanmar.

In July,the Myanmar’s Senior General,Than Shwe,was thrown a red carpet welcome on a state visit to India.

Officials say that the Obama administration now supports its policy of engagement with the Myanmar’s military regime and in fact was following it.

Despite the fact that it (the US) has imposed tough sanctions against Myanmar,in its new policy announced about a year ago,it has had two rounds of dialogue with the military junta under its new engagement policy.

‘India,US are partners in Afghanistan’

Asserting that New Delhi will continue with developmental work in Afghanistan,Shivshankar Menon said India and the US have similar goals of helping the war-torn nation into a peaceful and moderate democratic nation free from terrorism.

“Our goals in Afghanistan are consistent. For us,the goal is a peaceful moderate Afghanistan which is not in anarchy or a source of extremism or terrorism — a trouble for the entire region and ultimately for the world,” Menon said in response to a question at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — a Washington-based think-tank.

India will continue to work for that goal,with its partners,he added.

Afghanistan was one of the major topics discussed when Menon met top Obama Administration officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US National Security Advisor Gen (Rtd) James Jones.

“The US has been engaged in (Afghanistan) on one way before and in other ways after 9/11. We (India and US) share the goal to a very great extent. We will continue to work together. I don’t think,it is for us to give the US a greater role or for the US to give us a greater role. I don’t think that’s the way we look at it,” Menon said.

The NSA said that both the countries look at it as a partnership as both share the same goal.

“We do it in our own ways,each of us have different capacities and strength on the ground in the region and we use them accordingly and I think that’s why it is worked well in the recent past,” Menon said.

India,which so far has committed USD 1.5 billion help,will continue to concentrate on developmental work and rebuilding of Afghanistan’s economy.

We have people on the ground and a series of small developmental projects right through the country. It has worked well,he said.

The US has concentrated on security side,governance issues and Afghanistan has progressed in last 10 years. As long as we keep our eye on the goal and remember what we are there for,” he said,adding as far as India was concerned,it would keep doing because “it was in our immediate interest,it is out immediate neighbourhood.”

We felt the effects directly when there was instability in Afghanistan,when there was anarchy,” Menon said.